NCFJE Releases Statement Clarifying Planned Lag B’Omer Program

After tens of years without, a group of people are arranging a Large Lag B’Omer Parade on the scale of those the Rebbe participated in when Lag B’Omer fell on a Sunday. Look at what the Rebbe has to say about it, and why the NCFJE has been careful not to do one until now.

B”H
OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The days leading to 28 Nissan, 5781

For nearly 80 years, the NCFJE has been tasked by our Rebbeim to organize children’s rallies and parades in the Crown Heights community for various holidays and special occasions. With the creation of Tzivos Hashem 40 years ago in 5741, the rallies increased in their frequency, and Rabbi JJ Hecht OBM faithfully continued his responsibility of organizing them, sometimes at a moment’s notice, always making every move with the guidance of the Rebbe.

In the 1980’s when the community had grown in size, Rabbi Hecht composed a note to the Rebbe asking if it would be proper to hold the Lag B’Omer rally on the street outside of 770. The Rebbe’s response was that it would not be proper, as it may cause people to compare the rally to past parades, and rather than draw the conclusion that the reason it is smaller is due to Lag B’Omer not being on Sunday and therefore the students of Public School not being in attendance, they would draw other (erroneous) conclusions.

Historically, Crown Heights generally did not hold a parade when Lag B’Omer was not on a Sunday, which may be puzzling to some people, especially knowing the encouragement the Rebbe gave to annual parades in other places, especially Israel. In this response the Rebbe gives a reason for this difference, citing a concern that applies to Crown Heights as opposed to other locations, such as Israel, which have a similar parade every year.

In the years since, beginning with the rally on 11 Nissan, 5752, rallies for various special days have been held outside 770, perhaps echoing the strong desire of Chassidim to be close to our source of life. The Sunday parades have also evolved and are unlikely to be confused with a rally. We therefore host Lag B’Omer rallies outside of 770 when a park is not a possibility, such as this year due to Covid.

It has come to our attention that certain individuals have taken upon themselves to organize a Lag B’Omer “march/parade” in the community this year, and enjoined the local schools to take part. They have the route end at the location of the NCFJE rally although the 2 events are not connected.

It is our understanding from the Rebbe’s abovementioned response that the Rebbe is opposed to holding an event that would have the appearance of a Lag B’Omer parade if it would not be done with the same attendance and “shturem” of the parades in the past, rather it would be preferable to hold a rally with the local mosdos and not hold a parade.

We are not admonishing the organizers personally, as we assume they did not know of the Rebbe’s directive before making their plans, and it is hard for one to abandon a project that hard work was put into. But after bringing it to their attention they are still moving forward, and we deem it necessary to put out a public statement to clarify our position, namely, that we have no connection to the “march/parade” being organized and believe it is not within the Rebbe’s wishes.

With fervent wishes that this will lead to harmony and bring nachas to the Rebbe in the spirit of sheves achim gam yachad,

On behalf of the board of directors of the NCFJE,

Rabbi Shimon Hecht

The text of the Rabbi Hecht’s note and the Rebbe’s response:

כ”ק אדמו”ר שליט”א
בנוגע לל”ג בעומר: הבכן מהאסיפות עם הנהלת המוסדות הי’ שנעשה כינוס – בחוץ – כמו בתהלוכה – אבל זה לא יהי’ תהלוכה. ונערוך ספסלים, וניתן להם ממתקים וכו’, תזמורת, הגרלה, בעל מנגן, ונתחיל בערך בשעה עשר, ובשלשה רבע לאחר עשר נקבל פני כקאד”ש, י”ב פסוקים, ואח”כ כקאד”ש. ולאחר הסיום יסעו המוסדות לנאות דשא על האוטובוסים שיזמינו מקודם, לגמור החגיגה של ל”ג בעומר.
איננו יודעים אם זהו נכון, אבל עבור הילדים יהי’ חידוש, וג”כ יתן האפשריות עבור מוסדות אחרים לבוא (אם ירצו) וג”כ ליתן האפשריות עבור הגדולים ג”כ להשתתף מן הצד.
כמובן יהי’ רם קול וכו’.
ואנא להודיעני כקאד”ש חוות דעתו ה’ IF I’M ON THE RIGHT TRACK, ואם זה לא נכון מה הצעתו הק’ של כקאד”ש.
יעקב יהודה בן שרה העכט

מענת כ”ק אדמו”ר:
לא נכון – כי ישוו למספר המשתתפים לשנה שעברו – וילמדו הפירוש (ביחוד לאחרים) שאינו מפני שאינו יום סגירת הPS כ”א = וכו’ ויעשה כל מוסד בפ”ע – אבל בשטורם כדרוש.