Lag Ba’Omer, celebrated this year on May 16, was a day filled with celebrations in Jewish communities across Ukraine. There were bonfires, parades, picnics, and barbeques. Kids played with bows and arrows and other fun activities. Weddings were held along with other joyful events. For the people of Ukraine, the holiday was a welcome respite from the ongoing stress and strain of living under martial law for more than three years.
As with all holiday celebrations during the ongoing crisis, last minute changes to plans were necessary, due to air raid sirens, power interruptions, and other threats and challenges. And yet, the special events were attended by tens of thousands of Jews, all across the country, who know that they are not alone and not forgotten. “Entire families came,” said Shlomo Wilhelm, Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr and Western Ukraine, “the whole Jewish community came together.” In Kharkiv, Rabbi Moshe Moskovitz, received special permission from the Kharkiv municipality, to lead a parade through the city and conclude with a prayer for global peace.
Our collective support and solidarity is more important now than ever, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to save lives and restore hope.
