In an unprecedented display of unity, the busy street Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA, known for its shops and Kosher restaurants, was home to this past Sunday Lag B’Omer Parade; families, and particularly children from all walks of life and background came together to celebrate the Hilula of the Rashbi – and celebrate they did, in grand fashion.
Rabbi “General” Chaim Mentz from Chabad of Bel Air and Rabbi Mayer Greene from Chabad of the Valley MC’d the program. After welcoming everyone, they took a moment to thank everyone that came. Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, Director of West-Coast Chaabd and Head Shliach of the Rebbe to the state of California, came up to shared divrei bracha and chizuk. He introduced Councilman Paul Koretz who thanked everyone for coming. This was followed by a special presentation to Attorney Mr. Doug Honig for his tremendous assistance to Chabad of California.
Rabbi Cunin then introduced a special video presentation of the Rebbe, showing highlights of the Lag B’Omer Parade 5744.
After the video, the Platt Brothers came on stage and got the crowd smiling from ear to ear with their amazing dance and acrobatic routine. This was followed by an amazing performance by Chaim Fogelman, who, in classic manner, set the mood as he had the crowd – children and adults alike – clamoring for more.
The highlight of the rally were the 12 Pesukim, MC’d by Rabbi Mendel Duchman, director of the Kol Yaakov Yehuda Shul and son-in-law of the legendary Rabbi J.J. Hecht (the long-time MC of all of the Rebbe’s children & Lag B’Omer rallies). Children from different schools from across Southern California were honored to lead in their recitation, including one group from Reno, Nevada that came all the way to see, for the first time in their lives, a Jewish festival of this magnitude.
Musical entertainment throughout the entire parade was provided by Mendel Simons.
The rally ended off with a bang as the TNT Dunk Squad kept the crowd at seat’s edge with their acrobatics and acro-dunking abilities.
Prior to the beginning of the parade, Rabbi Mendel Duchman made a surprise presentation to Rabbi Shlomo Cunin; an original “Lag B’Omer Coin” given by the Rebbe to the Chassidim (thru the Chevrei HaKollel) in the year 5751. The coin bears the quote of “L’Chatchila Ariber” of the Rebbe Maharash – a motto that Rabbi Cunin always lives by.
The parade was up next; the grandest one the West Coast has ever seen. A procession of over an hour that featured a kaleidoscope of amenities: a motorcycle brigade, Scottish bag pipes, representation from the army & veterans association, the police department (which included a vintage police car), specialty sports cars, a speed boat with Rabbi Shlomo Menkes, bicycle brigade, amongst others.
And then there was Charlie.
The Cheder Menachem marching Band and Flag Procession riled up the crowd as the talk of the town – and most of Lubavitch – made his appearance. To thousands of smiling faces, Charlie Button, “The Grand Marshall” to the Los Angeles Lag B’Omer Parade, made his appearance in grand style, riding atop a Convertible, waving to everyone and blowing balloons for some youngsters.
After weeks of labor, 9 floats made their way along the parade route. The floats focused on basic Jewish ideas and values: Tefilla (Cheder Menachem & KYY boys), Derech Eretz (KYY girls), Shalosh Regalim (YOEC Zal), Chinuch, (YOEC Smicha), the 10 Mivtzoim (Bais Chana), Every mitzvah is a brick to the Beis Hamikdosh (YOEC Mesivta), Bayis Molei Seforim (Cheder Menachem 6th Grade) and a beautiful model of the Beis Hamikdosh (Bais Bezalel Chabad). Without a doubt these floats were the nicest and most creative floats that Los Angeles has ever seen. The final float was the Siyum Sefer Torah in memory of Mr. Eddie Coe, which will find its home in Chabad of Malibu.
Following the floats, children from each school joined in the grand Lag B’Omer Parade; Yeshivos and Hebrew Schools, followed by shuls from all over marched with their hand-held banners, held up high and proud as they paraded through the streets of Los Angeles.
Following the parade, a full-day fair and carnival, full of rides, carnival booths and a petting zoo was waiting and ready for all to enjoy. A simultaneous 2nd concert that featured Chaim Fogelman & The Cheder Boys Choir entertained the crowd. A surprise appearance of Rabbi Shlomo Menkes brought smiles to all.
The entire event was made possible thanks to the generous financial assistance from the event’s corporate sponsors: Noni of Beverly Hills, Beverly Judaica & Gifts, Budget Rent a Car, Project Pride, Western Kosher, Milano Wigs, The YES Lender, Jewpon.com, Ness Paper on the West, FridayLight.org, Tribe Media Corp., The Running Springs Retreat Center & Pitaway.
All in all, a most meaningful, exciting and enjoyable day was had by all. Surely the Rebbe gained much nachas.
The Lag B’Omer Parade is a culmination of the combined efforts of many Chabad mosdos in Southern California: West Coast Chabad-Lubavitch, Kol Yaakov Yehuda, Bais Bezalel Chabad, Bais Chana, Bais Chaya Mushka, Chabad of Bel Air, Chabad of Beverlywood , Chabad of Century City, Chabad of the Conejo, Chabad Israel Center, Chabad of Larchmont, Chabad of Malibu, Chabad of Manhattan Beach, Chabad of North Hollywood, Chabad of Pacific Palisades, Chabad of SOLA, Chabad of The Valley, Chabad Russian Center, Chabad Persian Youth, Chabad Russian Center, Chabad Youth Programs, Cheder Menachem, The Garden School, Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad.
In particular, a special thank you goes to Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin of Chabad of California, Rabbi Mendel Duchman of Kol Yaakov Yehuda, Rabbi Yossi Burston of Chabad Youth Programs, Rabbi Mayer Green of Chabad of Tarzana, Rabbi Chaim Mentz of Chabad of Bel Air, the Talmidei HaShluchim of YOEC Mesivta & Beis HaMidrash & Rabbi Leibel Cohen of Cheder Menachem.
Yasher Koach to Michoel Mordechai Cohen, Dovid Feld and the rest of the Bais Bezalel construction team. May we merit to see the Bais Hamikdash soon
one is sholom goodman and the other is is avremi raichik (i think)
did u guys know that la had the worlds biigest limo there
thats that goldsh “truck” limo that carried all the clowns
kyy ezras nashim
the best
you have the best comment
GO LA WE ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHOOOOO WE ARE THE BEST BETTER THEN ALL THE REST!!
CHABAD PERSIAN YOUTH LOOKIN GOOD!!
i think one is yankel raskin
I spy,
MRA!!
Who are the clowns with charlie in the convertible?
Dear Rabbi’s Mendel Duchman, Yossi Burston, and Chaim Cunin, Many many thanks for undertaking such an enormous task to recreate a ‘770 style Parade’ here in Los Angeles. You didn’t omit a single detail!! It was extremely organized to the minutest detail…. The parade was so majestic…it evoked memories of 770…people commented they were emotionally touched….. The school kids involved for weeks before in preparation…..this made it a memorable event for them never to be forgotten…. and Charlie Buttons….only you would think of it…………how original, how special!!! My son commented “Why do I have to go to NY for the… Read more »
Sorry I’m so emotional I pushed send to fast and also I’m not the type to send comments……in fact I’m usually against it- but I couldn’t resist. May the oibershter bench all of the rebbes chassidim…..the peulas they all pulled off in the whole world with such a groceh far nem will shurly bring about the coming of mosshiach –
———-thanks again to all who made the parade possible and gave us another few years of hanging on to the memories of the good old days in 770 on lag beomer…….
– a proud mother………..
Growing up in crown heights and being an alumni of bias rivka the memories of preparing for a lag bomer parade, the lack of sleep, the excitement of displaying our work and bringing nachas to the rebbe as we marched in front of 770 will remain a life time memory……..for years I yearned to have my daughters have that same experience ….and couldn’t ..until this year……the way you got my daughter involved in building HER float and then she go my husband and siibling motivated as well…where all our family did for the last 10 days was work and live… Read more »
A tremendous display of achdus; Thank you to Rabbis Cunin & Duchman for securing the needed funds and to Rabbis Greene, Mentz, Burston & Cohen, together with the Yeshiva Shuchim & Bchurim for putting together such a wonderful program.
Love your t shirt……..u look so calm…….and in camp spirit-
Chazak! Looks like u pulled off another great event………
Your counselor cgi………
Ok u just clarified something for me I live in the Midwest and we were not zoiche to have a grand lag bomer parade….but for the last few days col has been giving us all the coverage of dozens of parades( thank you col- u guys r great) that took place all over the world and for some reason the one in la reminded me the most of I saw growing up in crown heights ….the fact that your back drop was a replica of 770…the way you built the platform for the rebbe and even the parade procession reminded… Read more »
Thank you Mrs. Forrer. You are so talented.
Go Mendel Munitz!!!!
Dear Rabbi & Mrs. Duchman, Many many thanks for undertaking such an enormous task to recreate a ‘770 style Parade’ here in Los Angeles. You didn’t omit a single detail!! It was extremely organized to the minutest detail…. The parade was so majestic…it evoked memories of 770…people commented they were emotionally touched….. The school kids involved for weeks before in preparation…..this made it a memorable event for them never to be forgotten…. and Charlie Buttons….only you would think of it…………how original, how special!!! My son commented “Why do I have to go to NY for the Great Parade? Charlie Buttons… Read more »
GREAT JOB, MAISH RICHLER!!!!!
Did md play drums….like he did last year in ch?
THANKS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH SRULA FOR ALL OF UR HELP PUR FLOAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HOPFULLY NOW U WILL GET MORE SLEPP [U BETTER]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
charlies button
GO RABBI MENTZ!!!!!!!!! THATS WHAT WE CALL BRING THE LIFE TO THE PARTY!!!!! GOOD JOB!!
Chaim Fogelman you were fantastic!!
You gave us Real solid “kosherspirit”….. entertainment.
Thanks to all the organizers The Whole parade was really really “great”
Your fans from out west
i love srula duchman she rocks she is the best madricha she worked hours on the float thank you
Go so Cal! IM”H up here soon!
u were the best on the drums!!
our float was the best we could have made it at all with out srula u rock the world kyy luvs u
BAIS CHANA HAD THE BESTTTT TEN MIVTZOIM FLOAT!!!! THEY WON FIRST PRIZE OF EM ALL!!!!
WE WANT PICTURES~~~~!!!!
A great big thank you to all the YOEC Shluchim that made all the right things happen behind the scenes, especially to: Yisroel Levertov, Koppel Zirkind, Tzvi Freund, Shaul Wolf, Yosef Rivkin & Spu Barber
Chaim Fogelman was on Mitzvah blvd lag bomer morning and mitzvah blvd goes right across the whole united states from crown heights to Los Angeles and it winds through every Chabad town on the way
KYY’s float was the best!!! great job girls! amazing that the 3rd through eighth graders made such a beatiful float. Great Job KYY Ezras Nashim and Great Job Srula Duchman!
i was in the band it was great
the mini cooper was part of the kol yakov yehuda diamond daveners float.
By far the best ever. I was truly proud to be a Lubavitcher at this parade (I’m always proud of it) It was such a good feeling to see how the Parade was so organized and fun! and brought back memories as a child in the Lag B’omer parades in the early days in Crown Heights. Kol Hakovod to all the organizers and people involved….and the clowns too!
what would we do without them…
go mushky, chaya, geny, mushky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! go us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are one outstanding man!! you have A heart like your brothers have you have the care that they all have you have the giving like they all have BUT THERE ONE THING THAT SANDS OUT IN YOU AND THATS YOUR WARMTH AND YOU SMILE YOU ARE ONE UNBELIEVABLE PERSON. Thank you for all you do keep it up!
The Shlukim whom helped make the beautiful floats
Yossi Burston, thank you so much for organizing such a great lag baomer parade! your the man!
i spy josh goldman……..was it a float ? did it have a theme? anybody knows?
To Number 4, your words are beautiful, but you forgot Yossi Burston. BH, the article clearly mentioned him. See “in particular, a special thank you goes to….”
Awesome check out Bunk Tes-Yud Zayin!!!!!!!!!!!! MoscowFornia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You wrote in the first line of this article, “In an unprecedented display of unity.” This has BH been done several times before.
So it was “not” unprecedented .
We love you Rabbi Duchman! Everything you do is #1!! May Hashem bless you 100 fold for all your Tzorchei Tzibbur Work!!
looked really nice!
dont get shy on us- can you tell us how you got him thrue security,please just post the details….
Jets made the best float of all!!! congrats
how charlie passed true TSA security @ the ariports in ny and then in la- did he he have to take all his buttons off?- there is no way the screening buzzers didnt go off.
davend with us this shabboss, he was our junior rabbi- and he read the hayom yom- and then we all made a big kiddush in his honor. Charlie thanks for coming to la i wish you can move to los angeles.so you too can become a diamond davener thank you …….
Wasn’t Chaim Fogelman in NY lag bomer morning? How did he do that???
Charlie, thanks for spreading peace and love on Pico.
You are an inspiration to us all!
Well done!
Ive lived in los angeles now for over twenty years and have gone to hundreds of dozens and dozens chabad functions-this parade (that i understand was pulled of by mendel duchman and chaim nochum cunin) was by far the best and most energenic single chabad peula that ive attended. poshut the entire anash and temimin,as wel has thousands of fremda yidden were seen lined up on pico blv enjoying every second of it. the achdus and the simcha and the seder of the entire even was superb. i salute all those that brought about a kiddush lubavitch here in los… Read more »
for coming to los Angeles, my parents told me you were at my sholom zocher 14 years ago.
GO CHABAD OF SHERMAN OAKS!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOOO
Chaim! someone had fun together with everyone in the crowd!