By COLlive reporter
Once again, Los Angeles pulled off an incredible Lag BaOmer event, despite restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event began with a virtual rally, in which over 5,000 people participated, from schools throughout Los Angeles and from across the spectrum.
The rally was organized by the Power of Youth, and produced by Rabbi JJ Duchman.
The exciting program included the reciting of pesukim, and entertainment by singers Simcha Friedman and Uri Davidi.
Immediately afterwards, the celebration continued with a roving concert by the popular 8th Day Band, following in a procession led by a media truck playing videos of Lag BaOmer parades with the Rebbe.
For the next three hours, 8th Day traveled through the streets of Los Angeles in an open-air van usually used for touring the city.
Residents came out of their homes and sang and danced along.
The event, which was streamed live around the world, was MC’d by Rabbi Mendel Duchman, one of the organizers of the parade.
“8th Day kept people singing, dancing and clapping,” Rabbi Duchman told COLlive. “People joined in with great joy, from their homes, windows and front lawns, even while social distancing.”
A special stop was made at the home of Rabbi Tzemach Cunin OBM, shliach in Century City, who was for many years one of the main organizers of the Lag BaOmer parades in California.
At his home, a special tribute was held in his memory. Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, Tzemach’s father and West Coast Head Shliach, addressed the crowd with a very emotional greeting.
Following that, a stop was made at Bais Chaya Mushka – 770 where Rabbi Tzemach’s children recited a posuk, followed by greetings from Shlucha Aida Cunin, Tzemach’s wife, who requested of participants to keep’s Tzemach’s legacy alive by doing Mitzvos and acts of kindness.
Once again, Los Angeles Jewry from all walks of life were uplifted and united by the Lag BaOmer event.
The event was a joint project by Kol Yaakov Yehuda the Rebbes Diamond Daveners and West Coast Chabad Headquarters and was produced by Yossi Burston of YB events and an Askan of Los Angeles.
Parade Committee: Rabbi Mendel Duchman, Rabbi Dovi Gorelik, Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin, Rabbi Yossi Burston.
Co-sponsoring the event was: Congregation Levi Yitzchok, Chabad of Century City, Bais Betzalel Chabad, Chabad House-Persian, Chabad of North Beverly Hills, Chabad of Pacific Palisades, Chabad of Larchmont, Chabad Israeli Center, Sola Chabad.
VIDEO: Replay of Live Rally and Roving Concert
