Groups Join Forces in Philly for City-Wide Lag BaOmer Fair

What began as a community gathering in a local park with 100 attendees has since transformed into a citywide celebration of Jewish pride and unity.

For the past 11 years, Rabbi Gedaliah and Shevy Lowenstein have been hosting a Lag BaOmer festival in their Philadelphia neighborhood. This year, in the spirit of Hakhel and Jewish unity, the event is set to be larger than ever, expecting to bring together close to 600 people from the area.

“The event is always amazing,” says Aviel Nisimi, who has helped build a large bonfire at the event since its inception. “The achdut—the Jewish unity—is so special, joining people together to celebrate a wonderful day. It’s very exciting!”

The holiday, which is celebrated on the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. This year, it begins on the evening of Wednesday, May 25, and lasts until the evening of Thursday, May 26.

A festive day on the Jewish calendar in the midst of a period of mourning, it is celebrated with outings, bonfires and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron in northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day. Lag BaOmer also marks the day when the deaths of students of the eminent Rabbi Akiva ceased after they were smitten by a plague for not acting respectfully towards one another. From that comes the imperative to love and respect fellow Jews.

Typical housing in Northern Liberties, where Rabbi Gedaliah and Shevy Lowenstein run a Chabad center (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

This year, the Lowensteins, co-directors of the Jewish Center of Northern Liberties, are teaming up with The Chevra, a local organization that provides programming for young professionals in the city, to make the May 26 event larger than ever. Called the “Mystic Music Festival,” the event will take place on a large paved lot and feature seven local Jewish music performers, a drum circle, an artist’s pavilion, bonfire and barbecue dinner. A children’s fair starts off the event at 4 p.m.

Rob Wexler, who will be performing with one of the bands during the festival, is looking forward to connecting with other Jews through his music.

“When you play music written and composed by the sages and inspired souls, you know your music is universally relatable,” he explains. “I also hope listeners will enjoy hearing familiar tunes, but with a Jewish twist. I also hope to show them that the real world and Jewish observance are not mutually exclusive; rather, when done appropriately, they create a harmony that transcends both individually.”

For Chabad Rabbi Lowenstein, the event’s main purpose is to unite the city’s Jewish residents and enhance their sense of Jewish pride.

“The whole theme of Lag BaOmer is Ahavat Yisrael—‘love of your fellow Jews’—and how every Jew is the same. That’s why it was so important for us to have local Jewish talent come together, and so we took it one step further this year by partnering with The Chevra to enhance the sense of Jewish unity in our community.”

The Philadelphia neighborhood of Northern Liberties has become a major enclave of young professionals, students, artists and design professionals—many affiliated with the significant number of art schools in the city. Improvement and revitalization projects have made this a popular urban destination and place to live.

Rob Wexler and his band will be one of several musical performances at the event.

Aryeh Cohen, co-founder of The Chevra, anticipates powerful effects of the joint event this year. “Both of our organizations want to work to share the light of Lag BaOmer with the Jewish community,” he says. “Our goal is to bring a larger constituency of young professionals to the event to broaden their awareness of Jewish ideals.”

For Lowenstein, one of the most attractive features of the event is its informal nature.

“It’s held in a vacant lot, which is very positive for most people,” he says. “You’re not required to fit into any particular social norm or structure to express your Jewish pride and connection at the event. People can come in their own way, just as they are, and connect to their inner Jewish selves.”

Cohen echoes this sentiment, noting that focusing on and loving one’s fellow Jews are “the central teachings of both Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who are most connected to this day.”

Kids enjoy the sounds of percussion; a drumming circle is again on tap for Lag BaOmer.

The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a children's fair and last through late into the evening.