Tuesday, June 17, 2025
The Chabad of the Five Towns plans to go all out for its 30th annual Lag B’Omer celebration at Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park next week.
Lag B’Omer is a Jewish holiday celebrated 33 days after Passover, and marks the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a sage and lead disciple of Rabbi Akiva in the second century.
The community-wide event occurs on the 33rd day of the Omer, and in the Hebrew calendar it is always celebrated on the 18th of Iyar. This year that translates to May 15, when it will be commemorated with outings, a bonfire, parades and other events. The party in the park kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and there will be food available for purchase.
“‘Lag’ is made up of the Hebrew letters lamed and gimel, which together have the numerical value of 33, and ‘B’Omer’ means ‘of the Omer,’ according to chabad.org. “The Omer is the counting period that begins on the second day of Passover and culminates with the holiday of Shavuot, following day 49.”
Thirty years ago, Lag B’Omer was just another day on the calendar in the Five Towns, until Rabbi Zalman Wolowik and his wife, Rebbetzen Chanie Wolowik, of Chabad of the Five Towns, started the tradition of getting together and celebrating the occasion.
“When we first started, it was at someone’s house — there were about 40 people there,” Rabbi Wolowik recalled. “Thankfully, fast-forward 30 years, we fill the park. This is the event for the community.”
Wolowik emphasized that the event is the only one marking Lag B’Omer that is for the whole community, no matter your age, level of observance or beliefs.
“We have people from all walks of life and all ages come out, whether it’s the child enjoying the entertainment or the adults to enjoy the burger and hot dog,” he said. “Together it’s a family camaraderie.”
Wolowik credited, and praised, the late Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew J. Parise for encouraging the Chabad to host the celebration at the park. “He always was encouraging, using uplifting words and doing whatever he could do so there should be as many community events as possible,” Wolowik said. “He recognized that Chabad is the perfect venue for community events.”
Parise’s legacy lives on as Mayor Benjamin Weinstock continues to oversee the events held at the park and makes sure the Chabad always has the date available.
“Hosting the Lag B’Omer event is meaningful in the sense that we have the opportunity to have large numbers of community members participate in a social, religious event at the park,” Weinstock said.
Over the years, the celebration has grown from a few hundred people to as many as 4,000.
“This day, Lag B’Omer, is truly a day where everyone celebrates for the extent that Jewish law dictates,” Wolowik said. “Even if someone is mourning a loved one this day, we celebrate because we’re all breaking our mourning.”
The celebration will feature bows and arrows, tug of war, kites and Frisbees, bubbles and barbecue, along with a giant bonfire that people will dance around.
“It’s just so beautiful and meaningful to have all walks of the community joining, and what we do is really keep it to the basic outdoor experience,” Chanie Wolowik said. “We do it so the community comes out and feels proud to celebrate holidays together.”
As with all cultures, the holiday is based in tradition. “It’s super consistent, but maybe we have different vendors, a petting zoo,” she said. “We always have your basic arts and crafts, but the idea and the concept that were out there to celebrate being in the field really hasn’t changed. If you’re true to your traditions, things stay consistent.”
There will also be music, because Lag B’Omer is a lively holiday, a day of connection for the Jewish people. “I think that’s what’s been the most beautiful thing about Lag B’Omer, because it is only one day,” Chanie Wolowik said. “You’ll see everyone together.”
She said she was looking forward to seeing many people having a good time together, because the Jewish community has felt the impact of the October 2023 attacks on Israel.
“Since Oct. 7, I think it’s a time that we want to show our Jewish pride, stand together as a community and come together at Cedarhurst Park the one night we can all together and make a loud statement,” Wolowik said. “We’re united, and we’re here to celebrate traditions that are thousands of years old, and they don’t change.”
