No Breaking Tradition in Montreal

By Borsht, COLlive reporter in Montreal

The Chabad community in Montreal, one of the only cities in the world which organizes a grand Lag BaOmer Parade whether its Sunday or in middle of the week, gathered Thursday to celebrate the yahrzeit of the Rashbi.

2,500 people of all ages showed up for the event that began in front of Beth Rivkah Girls Academy in a display of Jewish unity and pride, as instructed by the Rebbe.

Young students recited the 12 Pesukim followed by greetings from the Côte-des-Neiges Borough Mayor Michael Applebaum.

And off the parade went…

Applebaum hopped into a black convertible to join Dayan Rabbi Dovid Rephael Banon who carrying a new Torah to Chabad of Queen Mary, while drummers of grade 5 of the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim school began marching.

Creative floats prepared by bochurim of the Yeshiva Zal and a “keeping kosher” float by girls of Beis Chaya Mushka Seminary had participants staring carefully at the Jewish educational messages.

Children marching held signs in both English and French calling to “Learn Torah” and “Love your fellow Jew” as they walked down Westbury Avenue, passed the Yeshiva building and the Shomrim Laboker shul to the Van Horne Park.

The Chabad schools were joined by pupils of some 10 Jewish and public schools in Montreal for a rally emceed by the organizer Rabbi Dovid Cohen.

“It was scheduled to rain but Baruch Hashem it didn’t and we manage to get 12 Jewish schools to attend the parade,” Rabbi Cohen noted and thanked the Head Shliach Rabbi Berel Mochkin for his leadership.

Following greetings from Chabad dayanim Rabbi Banon and Rabbi Berel Bell, children’s entertainer Chaim Fogelman had the crowd singing and clapping on the only Sefira day that music is allowed.

A fascinating circus show, inflatable rides and raffles concluded yet another Lag BaOmer day in Montreal surely to be remembered until next year.