Photos: Simcha and Chayus at the Empire Bonfire

A Lag Ba’omer bonfire and celebration took place for the 32nd year running on Empire Boulevard, in the backyard of the Horowitz family home. Together, the Horowitz family and Rabbi Nachman Twerskei held their annual ‘Hadlokoh’ of a Bonfire in honor of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

The tradition began in 1984, after the Rebbe spoke about the importance of such gatherings, aimed at instilling Ruchaniyus and Chayus in the youth.

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3 Comments

  • I love Lag BaOmer

    The only thing I wish wasn’t a part of it is something seen in these photos:
    The pouring of oil, or something else flammable, onto the open flame.
    It’s a terrible thing to do — extremely dangerous (potentially), and the children learn to do this, too.

    NEXT YEAR may we warn people to not do this, IN ADVANCE.

  • New

    This is one of the NEW Minhagim in Crown Heights Post Gimmel Taamuz, being that people feel a void. By the Rebbe (and all previous Rabbeim) there never was a Bonfire made on Lag Baomer, nor was it made into an issue. Only in Eretz Yisroel was it done.

    However it seems that it makes people happy.

  • to comment # 2

    Acc 2 the article the Horowitzs have been doing it 4 32 yrs which means all the way back 2 1984 which was 10 yrs b4 Gimmel Tamuz, so for u to say, “it’s only an after Gimmel Tammuz thing” this article clearly states the opposite, so they were doing this bon fire way b4 Gimmel Tammuz, that’s that point, another thing is, if they just did it in a park instead of his back porch, the fire would be able 2 be bigger & that they could have more room space 4 ppl, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a big deal, all they gotta do is let the city know & bec Reb S. Horowitz is a Yerushalmi, he knows all the Minhagai Miron, so they would still be able 2 do all the special songs 4 Lag B’Omer.