Lag Ba'Omer in Mumbai
We began our celebration with a large bonfire on the roof of the chabad house in downtown Mumbai. We discussed the symbolism of fire as pointing towards the jewish soul that is always aspiring and wanting to grow, just like the upward direction of the flames. This conversation was especially meaningful because of where we were. The roof top that we were sitting on was the same location that terrorists brutally murdered 6 people, including the chabad rabbi and his wife, in 2008. For Jews to gather at this place and sing jewish songs around a bonfire served as testimony that the Jewish people are a people of grit and persaverence. Am ha-netzach lo yipached miderech arucka-the eternal people are not afraid of a long, circuitous path. We will march forward with determination and comitment.
We began our celebration with a large bonfire on the roof of the chabad house in downtown Mumbai. We discussed the symbolism of fire as pointing towards the jewish soul that is always aspiring and wanting to grow, just like the upward direction of the flames. This conversation was especially meaningful because of where we were. The roof top that we were sitting on was the same location that terrorists brutally murdered 6 people, including the chabad rabbi and his wife, in 2008. For Jews to gather at this place and sing jewish songs around a bonfire served as testimony that the Jewish people are a people of grit and persaverence. Am ha-netzach lo yipached miderech arucka-the eternal people are not afraid of a long, circuitous path. We will march forward with determination and comitment.
Our lag Ba'Omer celebration continued the next morning in a beautiful park overlooking the Arabian sea. We gathered with 30 kids from the slums played games, taught them a new song and shared a tastey pick nick lunch together. We provided these smiling children with a boost of confidence and comradarei.
In short, lag Ba'Omer in India was memory making.
- Rabbi Noah Cheses
Assistant Rabbi Shaarei Shomayim
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