Students, parents, and community members gathered in Toronto for a lively Lag BaOmer parade and rally featuring colorful floats, clowns, activities, and Jewish pride. The event was organized by local mechanech Rabbi Mendy Marmulszteyn.

The event began at a local park with a special rally program. Bochurim dressed as clowns performed an entertaining skit portraying a mivtzoim story, showing yeshiva bochurim visiting local Jews in the area on Fridays to connect them with Yiddishkeit and Torah and mitzvos.

Following the performance, school administrator Rabbi Yona Shur shared inspiring words and a story connected to Lag BaOmer and the Rebbe’s horaos. The children then recited the 12 Pesukim together, with the highest-ranking “soldiers” from each grade being called up individually.

There was also special emphasis placed on the fact that this year marks exactly 50 years since the Rebbe launched the 12 Pesukim.

After the rally, the official parade began, with students marching proudly as a school in order of rank together with four creative floats prepared by the different grades.

One float, created by a local bochur, depicted the times of Moshiach and the many changes that will take place then.

Another float, built by the eighth grade, featured “Yofutzu Mayanosecha Chutza,” including a large model of 770 with flowing water emerging from it, symbolizing how Chassidus and yiddishkeit spread from 770 to the entire world.

Seventh-grade students created a dramatic display of the Kosel with a missile descending from above and being stopped by the “Yad Hashem,” emphasizing the open miracles and tremendous protection Hashem has shown Eretz Yisroel during the current situation.

Grade six, together with their teacher, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Zaltzman, prepared a float featuring models representing all 12 Pesukim in honor of “50 Years – Shnas Hachinuch” and the launch of the 12 Pesukim campaign by the Rebbe.

After the parade, everyone returned to the park for a barbecue, sports activities, and hikes.

“All weather forecasts predicted rain for the entire day,” Rabbi Marmulszteyn told Anash.org. “Unbelievably, the weather held off during the entire program, and rain only began falling as the last children boarded the buses back to school!”

“Not only that,” he added, “it even stopped again in time for the larger Chabad parade later that day!”

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