Released Time Students Join Forest Hills Parade

An aura of Jewish pride filled the air this Lag B’omer in Forest Hills, as hundreds of Jewish children and adults paraded down 108th Street. The parade ended at a party with a juggling show, carnival games and exciting raffles.

An aura of Jewish pride filled the air this Lag B’omer in Forest Hills, as hundreds of Jewish children and adults paraded down 108th Street with joy and happiness.

The parade began at the playground of PS 175, and concluded at the yard of the Queens Jewish Center. Signs were held up high with messages like ‘It’s cool to attend a Jewish school’ ‘I’m a Jew and I’m proud and I’ll sing it out loud’, and floats depicting Jewish objects were followed by a marching band, and a giant screen truck playing a video of the Rebbe.

Following the parade was a large gathering where the 12 pesukim were recited. In addition, there was a Jewish story, a juggling show, and raffles on expensive prizes. The children were then dismissed to enjoy the fun equipment brought for the occasion, including a 22’ slide, an obstacle course, bounce houses, as well as carnival games prepared by the boys from the local Chabad Yeshiva.

“This gathering is especially significant being that this year is a Hakhel year, a year of unity when the Jewish people in the Temple would gather together to hear the Torah being read by the king of the Jews”, explained Rabbi Shneur Majeski.

“Many of the boys and girls joining today are regular attendees of the Released Time Jewish Hour program,” said Rabbi Mendel Cohen, one of the Released Time instructors of a local school who volunteers weekly to teach Judaism to Jewish children learning in public school. Since its inception in 1941, the program has educated more than a quarter of a million Jewish boys and girls throughout New York with a fun and meaningful Torah education. To learn more about the Released Time program visit JewishHour.org.

Special thanks to Officers Keith Tuohey and Christopher DeSantis from the 112th precinct for their constant devotion to the Queens community, and for their help in this event. Thank you to Kamin Health Urgent Care for corporate sponsorship and continued care.