Ukraine's Jews celebrate Lag Ba'Omer in different ways

Jews across Ukraine celebrated the holiday of Lag Ba’omer on Monday and Tuesday amid Russia’s invasion and war. They were left with mixed feelings: Residents of some cities celebrated the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in closed gatherings, while in others there were no celebrations at all. There were also some communities that celebrated as usual, with a festive parade organized by Chabad emissaries, as it does annually worldwide.

Lag Ba’omer is celebrated on the 33rd day of Omer, the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. It is a break from the semi-mourning period of Sefirat HaOmer and usually includes celebration and dancing and bonfires.

In Kyiv, the Jewish community held the Lag Ba’omer parade and danced through the streets. Rabbi Mordechai Lavanhartz, a Chabad emissary and one of rabbis in the city said that “the children walked in the parade and recited Torah verses together.”

In Vinnytsia, both an event and parade took place. On the eve of Lag Ba’omer, the community gathered and danced around a bonfire that was lit in a large barrel. “Finally a positive fire,” said one of the city’s Jews.

Kyiv choosing to ignore attacks, celebrate Lag Ba'Omer with festivities

Also in Kyiv, in the Brotsky central synagogue, a parade was held and community members marched towards the recently established refugee village of Anatevka. The parade was led by the traditional “Mitzvah Tank” operated by the Jewish community, and on which one of Ukraine’s Chief Rabbis, Moshe Azman, rode.

Trucks that provide humanitarian aid, charity vehicles and ambulances that are at the service of the Jewish community, also joined in the convoy that traveled through the streets of Kyiv. Hundreds of participants stopped near the main headquarters of the Ukrainian Border Police, where its commander came to greet them.

Heads of the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU), which runs the emergency center of the Jewish community in the country, said on Wednesday that “it is impossible to describe the importance of observing traditional events in the Jewish community. The state of war continues to greatly challenge the Jewish routine but the rabbis of the communities make a great effort to continue preserving both the communities and the Jewish year cycle.” 

Heads of the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU) who run the emergency center of the Jewish community in the country said on Wednesday that "it is impossible to describe the importance of observing traditional events in the Jewish community. The state of war continues to greatly challenge the Jewish routine but the rabbis of the communities make a great effort to continue preserving both the communities and the Jewish year cycle."