Grand Lag BaOmer Celebration Unites Nearly 1,000 In Rego Park And Forest Hills

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The heart of Rego Park and Forest Hills was transformed into a vibrant corridor of Jewish pride and community spirit as nearly 1,000 people gathered for a grand Lag BaOmer celebration. Arranged by Rabbi Yaakov Horvitz of Chabad Youth Queens (ChabadYQ.com) in partnership with the QJCC, the festival turned the neighborhood into a bustling hub of joy and tradition. The festivities took place on 65th Avenue near 99th Street, a strategic location chosen for its proximity to seven local public schools attended by hundreds of Jewish children. To welcome the community, the street was lined with colorful displays highlighting Jewish observance and the coming of Moshiach, alongside oversized symbols of mitzvot including tefillin, mezuzot, and Shabbat candles.

Ensuring the event ran smoothly and safely required a massive community effort. The street was safely blocked off with the vital assistance of the 112th Precinct, with special gratitude extended to Community Affairs Officers Touhey and Desantis and their entire team. Shmira of Queens further bolstered the security of the day, with notable contributions from Coord. And NYPD Precinct Community Partner Avraham Pinkhasov, Community Outreach Coord. Shabsie Saphirstein, and Daniel Winchester. This secure environment allowed the youngest members of the community to celebrate freely, beginning with the elementary students of JIQ, who enjoyed a private Lag BaOmer rally and fun on-site before the gates opened to the general public.

As the public festivities commenced, arriving guests were warmly greeted by volunteers Elliote Malakov and Arianna Yashayev, both students at Forest Hills High School and dedicated members of the weekly Jewish Club led by Rabbi Horvitz. The event grounds were packed with attractions, ranging from high-energy inflatable rides and a professional rock-climbing wall to a full petting zoo where children fed animals while learning about the laws of kashrut. The Chabad Yeshiva, formerly located in Queens, provided a wealth of educational carnival games and a Jewish-themed photo booth, alongside dedicated stations for Tefillin and the "Os Bsefer Torah" campaign.

The air was filled with a unique blend of modern and traditional sounds. Doira Zann Entertainment provided the soundtrack for the day, featuring a deejay who was himself a former attendee of Chabad’s teen programs. Adding a profound cultural dimension, Levy Percussion wowed the crowd with immigrant cultural art music. Their performance on the Doira and Darbuka—instruments originating from the Middle East and Uzbekistan—was sponsored by NYC Cultural Affairs and helped transform the street into a welcoming celebration of diverse heritage. Amidst the music and games, many Jewish families from the local public schools took the opportunity to explore Chabad’s neighborhood programs, most notably the Release Time Jewish Hour.

The spiritual highlight of the afternoon arrived when the children received Tzivot Hashem parade flags and marched toward the main stage. In a powerful display of unity marking the 50th anniversary of the 12 Pesukim, the children gathered to recite the verses with extraordinary fervor. Every child received a Pesukim booklet, and special pens were distributed to those who participated with notable enthusiasm. Following a discussion on the holiness of Lag BaOmer, Rabbi Horvitz asked the children about their schools. In a spontaneous and moving moment, one young boy ran to the stage to exclaim, “Rabbi, right now I am in public school but very soon I am changing to a Jewish school!” His announcement triggered a heartfelt round of applause from the entire crowd.

In keeping with the ancient custom of lighting bonfires, the celebration reached its finale with a spectacular fire and bike show by Joe Janicki, a seasoned performer known for his appearances at the Chabad World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn amongst various Chabad events. The children remained mesmerized throughout the high-octane performance. As the event concluded, positive feedback flooded social media, with attendees describing the day as "OFF THE CHARTS" and expressing a deep desire for more community events of this caliber. This milestone gathering was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor EMU Health, as well as Kand Law, Gary Chernivsky of Apple Bank-Elmhurst, the Crown Torah Truck, and many other dedicated partners.