By COLlive reporter
Chabad Yeshiva bochurim around the globe are gearing up for hard work and some sleepless nights as they prepare for the local Lag BaOmer Parades this Sunday, the 18th of Iyar.
The festive day celebrates the anniversary of the passing of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), author of the Zohar. It also commemorates the end of the plague that killed the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva.
The Rebbe encouraged the practice of arranging children’s parades on Lag BaOmer in celebration of Jewish unity—a major Lag BaOmer theme, Chabad.org notes. Such parades are typically organized by Chabad institutions with the help of bochurim.
In Montreal, some members of the Chabad community remember an unlikely participant in the annual preparations for the parade: The legendary Rabbi Menachem Zeev Greenglass, a revered Mashpia and kabbalist who educated thousands of students.
Each year during the preparations, Reb Volf, as he was endearingly known, would remove his hat and long black kapota and help his students with the work. He would personally design posters promoting Torah and Mitzvos.
This week, an audio recording circulating on social media provided an explanation behind the uncharacteristic practice by Reb Volf, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 94.
The audio belongs to Rabbi Zalman Labkowski, Rosh Yeshiva of the Central Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, NY.
He told that the Rebbe would personally receive the letters and notes written to him in the early years of his leadership. Once, the Rebbe was seen reading a letter while walking from the office of the Mazkirus secretariat.
When the Rebbe reached his room, he first stopped and ripped up the letter he was reading into four pieces and placed it in a trash bin which stood at the entrance, known as “Gan Eden Hatachton.”
Bochurim rushed to retrieve the pieces of that letter. They discovered it contained complaints against the fact that bochurim are spending their time preparing Lag BaOmer floats and signs, instead of learning.
According to one account, since then, Reb Volf made it a custom to take part in the preparations for the Montreal parade, which encouraged local Jewish boys and girls to be proud of their heritage.
I remember years ago we were preparing the decorations for the Lag B’Omer parade in Montreal. It was raining very, very heavily and we couldn’t prepare the waiting trucks for the props and decorations. At about 2:00 a.m. Rabbi Greenglass
showed up and said that he wanted to make a poster for the parade, I went outside and to my surprise the rain stopped completely and the sky cleared up. The parade went on as scheduled. Thanks to Rabbi Greenglass.
Just wanted a clarification, is it that R’ Greenglass had heard about the story and so decided to invest his time in the parade (which is how I understood the story) or is there any suggestion that he was the author of the original letter to the Rebbe that was ripped up and, as a result, of the Rebbe’s actions R’ Greenglass undertook this custom? Does anyone know? Thanks.
Also to be noted he ask his son in law Rabbl Dovid cohen to get involved when one year there was not going to be a parade and till today BH the parade happens every year this year 5000 people are expected
Tzadik
The Rebbe taught us properly how the Pikuach nefesh of yidden, especially small children is the responsibility of every yid, even a Talmud Chacham or Nasi Hadar.
tysm for sharing