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WILKES-BARRE — For the Bais Menachem Youth Development Program of the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre, Sunday was a day of pride for their religion.

The program held a parade that processed from the Jewish Community Center on North River Street, over the Market Street Bridge, and into Kirby Park in honor of the Lag B’Omer holiday. Lag B’Omer is celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer and celebrates the life of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and the day he revealed the secrets of the kabbalah, a sacred Jewish text.

Bais Menachem Principal Rachel Perlman and School Administrator Rabbi Yehuda Green organized the dozens of students who attend the program by ranks for the parade. The ranks come from what they call God’s Army, a way to be active in the Jewish community. The privates, the newest members, led the front and the ranks ascended toward the rear of the formation ending with generals, the highest rank.

“The army, which in English is translated to God’s Army, is a way for students to express their Jewish pride and love of their religion. It promotes unity in the Jewish community. Our goals are for the students to do goodness in the world, follow the Bible and perform acts that fulfill our mission,” Perlman explained.

“The students can climb in rank by doing things such as saying their prayers, helping others, obeying their parents, and being leaders in the classroom,” Perlman continued.

“Lag B’Omer is about two main things. The first is celebrating the life mission of Rabbi Yochai, which looks at accomplishing your inner good and knowing the meaning of every good deed, no matter how small. The second thing we celebrate is Rabbi Akiva, who Rabbi Yochai was a student of, whose message was to respect and love others,” explained Green, who was leading the children in singing songs about their pride in Judaism and love for God.

The children in the program encouraged each other to sing louder and get more excited for the parade before it left the Jewish Community Center. The students discussed how even though they have been persecuted for their faith in the past, it’s important to be prideful and excited about Judaism and promote unity within the Wilkes-Barre Jewish community.

The parade featured music and festive floats that drove over the Market Street Bridge and into Kirby Park. Once at the park, the program took advantage of the clear and sunny skies that followed a brief rainfall. Participants played games, had a barbecue and later gathered around a bonfire, a celebratory symbol of Lag B’Omer.

Lag B’Omer attendees paraded from the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre to Kirby Park on Sunday, including this float of musicians playing and singing music along the route.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_LagBOmer2.jpg.optimal.jpgLag B’Omer attendees paraded from the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre to Kirby Park on Sunday, including this float of musicians playing and singing music along the route. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Plenty of children are on hand for Lag B’Omer at Kirby Park on Sunday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_LagBOmer3.jpg.optimal.jpgPlenty of children are on hand for Lag B’Omer at Kirby Park on Sunday. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Those joining Lag B’Omer at Kirby Park on Sunday were treated to food, music and games including shooting arrows, seen here by 19-year-old Shizzy Niasoff.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_LagBOmer4.jpg.optimal.jpgThose joining Lag B’Omer at Kirby Park on Sunday were treated to food, music and games including shooting arrows, seen here by 19-year-old Shizzy Niasoff. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Rabbi Yehuda Green holds his daughter Miriam, 3, as he addresses a large group attending Lag B’Omer Community Festival at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday afternoon.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_LagBOmer1.jpg.optimal.jpgRabbi Yehuda Green holds his daughter Miriam, 3, as he addresses a large group attending Lag B’Omer Community Festival at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday afternoon. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

By Katherine Pugh

For Times Leader

Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.