We should arrange celebrations, parades and the like, for all Jews, wherever they are located within the Diaspora – and certainly within the Holy Land.
Invite Everyone, Ensure Tzeni’us
Men, women and children should participate in these events – with separate arrangements obviously, for the sake of utmost modesty.
Fun Kids Activities
This is all especially important regarding children. It has been the custom from ancient times on, to reduce schoolchildren’s Torah study on Lag B’omer; instead, they take off half or a third of the day and go out to fields. There, the children are entertained with fun (and apparently) mundane activities, which serve as a catalyst for greater Torah study.
Democracies Are for Parades Expressing Judaism
In particular, Jews situated in “countries of plenty” (such as America), where they are able to observe Torah and Mitzvos free from persecution, intimidation and the like, should utilize their positive situation to arrange public parades – expressing the theme of the Jewish people’s upwards journey in matters of Judaism.
Unity March
Especially when you consider how these parades add to the unity between all Jews (in the spirit of sheves achim gam yachad) and in the education of Jewish children (chanoch lana’ar al pi darko, “educate a youth according to his way”).
We will thus ensure that this year’s Lag B’omer Parades will certainly be a great kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d’s Name) among Jewry and among the entire world; and will yet further increase the unity of Jews wherever they are. (Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim 5750; Hisvaaduyos p. 149)
Lands that Aid the Observance and Promotion of Torah
To the contrary – in these countries, the authorities extend their aid and support [to the Jews].
We are able to point with our finger and exclaim, “Look! Over there stands a Jew, together with his wife, who spent half a century in a country which, via intimidation and persecution, did not permit Jews to observe Torah and Mitzvos. Yet they allowed nothing to prevent them from progressing in Judaism, and going from strength to strength.
We are now privileged to see them right here, in immediate proximity, in this very synagogue and study hall!”
Undoubtedly, we will take [their story] to heart and derive a lesson from the living example provided by these Jews, who formerly lived in Communist Russia. They provide us with a lesson for our own lives in this country – for Hashem has redeemed us from a condition of state-sponsored persecution and brought us to a situation where the state actually aids and supports all areas of Judaism. (Parshas Behar-Bechukosai, Iyar 8, 11 and 15 5748; Hisvaaduyos pp. 269-270)
