Joburg Parade Unites Thousands

Drivers on Sandton’s Rivonia Road were in for a most pleasant surprise this past Sunday, as more than 5,000 people joined the Lag B’Omer Jewish Unity Parade, with participants from many Jewish Day Schools and Shuls.

“Lag B’Omer is traditionally a day of unity and celebration,” said Rabbi Pini Pink, who organised the event together with his wife Rochie. “The Parade offers the community an avenue to show our togetherness, and put our Jewish pride on display.”

Parades take place all over the world on the festival of Lag B’Omer, marking the cessation of a terrible plaque that befell the students of the famed Rabbi Akiva many centuries ago. It is a day of festivity and unity for this great event as well as honouring the memory of the sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who’s anniversary of passing is also commemorated on that date.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe established the concept of parades for children to demonstrate their Jewish pride decades ago, and these parades are proudly run in Johannesburg by Chabad House, directed by Rabbi David Masinter and Rabbi Michael Katz.

This year’s Parade kicked off with a rally at the Mushroom Farm Park in Sandton with greetings from Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein and Chabad’s Head Shliach Rabbi Mendel Lipskar. Child representatives from all participating schools led the crowd with words of Torah and Prayer, and everyone enjoyed an exhilarating African Acrobat show.

The Parade followed the rally, with children from King David Linksfield and Victory Park, Torah Academy, Yeshivah College and Eden, as well as a host of other school representatives each marching in their uniquely coloured Parade t-shirts, along with mounted Police, the SA Police’s Marching Band and the Parktown High School Band. Floats from Torah Academy Nursery, Primary, Girls High and Boys High highlighted the procession, along with a float by Chabad of Savoy and Kidz Alive, the Chabad of Sandton party bus, the Chabad Bikers and members from each of Joburg’s dozens of Chabad Houses.

A funfair and carnival, which followed the parade, under glorious African skies, left everyone with a beautiful day to remember.

“There was an unbelievable communal spirit. It was just a beautiful vibe, unforgettable, “ said Lieutenant Aiden Myers of the JMPD who pointed out just how happy all the children were. “Just seeing all those smiles, was so heart-warming.”