Thousands of Children Join Central Parade in Yerushalayim

Thousands of children filled the streets of Yerushalayim for one of the largest children’s gatherings in the country – the city’s central Lag BaOmer parade led by Rabbi Naftali Rot. The parade was followed by a massive rally and ended with a fun park of inflatables.

By Anash.org reporter

The streets of Yerushalayim’s neighborhoods came alive as thousands of children participated in the city’s central Lag BaOmer parade, organized by Tzeirei Agudas Chabad of Yerushalayim and its director, Rabbi Noam Rot. The event, led by the legendary MC Rabbi Naftali Rot, marked one of the largest children’s gatherings in the country, drawing boys from across the city’s diverse frum communities.

The day began with the main parade setting off from the courtyard of the Beis Yaakov Seminary, where children were grouped in an orderly fashion behind colorful flags and a special children’s drumming band. The parade made its way through central thoroughfares, cheered on by thousands of spectators who filled sidewalks, balconies, and rooftops.

The highlight of the day was the massive rally held at Ezras Torah Square. Streets were closed off early in the morning by police to accommodate the large crowds, and even before the parade arrived, the square was already packed with onlookers eager to witness the annual tradition.

Under the open skies and surrounded by giant banners promoting Torah and mitzvos, the rally opened with the recitation of the entire Sefer Tehillim, with each child assigned a few pesukim – for the safety of IDF soldiers, the recovery of the wounded, and the release of the hostages – followed by the 12 Pesukim.

A particularly emotional moment came when thousands of children broke into song, singing “Ani Maamin” in unison, their voices echoing across the square and surrounding streets as parents wiped away tears.

Many rabbonim and public figures were present, including Rabbi Yaakov Halperin, shliach in Yerushalayim, who secured funding for this parade and for dozens of others throughout the city. He spoke about the unity and power of children’s parades, launched by the Rebbe to instill love of Hashem and yiras Shamayim in young hearts.

The program also included entertainment – a lively juggling show and a musical performance by a popular Chassidic singer. Hundreds of seforim were raffled off among the children.

This year’s surprise addition was a large inflatable playground set up near the rally site. The colorful, spacious area included a variety of bounce houses and games, which were enjoyed by the children throughout the afternoon.

As in past years, the event was a tremendous Kiddush Hashem – highlighting the power and timeless impact of children’s parades, just as the Rebbe envisioned them.

Photos: Mendy Kotlyar