L’Chaim Takes Lag B’Omer and Shavuot to the Streets
Lag B’Omer was celebrated throughout Manchester with a pride and joy befitting the holiday. L’Chaim-Chabad set out to coordinate programming and events for people of all ages that would be as much memorable as it was meaningful.
More than 1200 children enjoyed a break from their school day to take part in an outdoor carnival, which was loved by the teachers and principals almost as much as the students themselves. “This is brilliant,” said Mr. Wolf of NCJPS. “When can you come back again?”
Numerous groups enjoyed barbecues and bonfires, as per the tradition of the day. At the CTeen barbecue, teens used the informal relaxed setting to springboard discussion about the holiday, and Jewish traditions and their relevance in modern lives. The weekly Mishmar club for primary school students 
enjoyed tales around a bonfire, while the Holy Law and Heaton Park synagogues combined for a unique children's program, carnival rides, face painting, barbecue and “Kumzitz” - a fireside evening of song and inspiration with the Sameach Choir and Rabbi Chazan.
Earlier on in the day amid the bustle of the Manchester City Center, tens of Jewish businessmen and women joined to hear the fascinating story of Csanad Szegedi, former deputy leader of an infamous Hungarian fascist, anti-Semitic political party turned devout Jew following his discovery that his grandparents were Jewish and had survived Auschwitz. An emotional and inspiring Q & A lasted long into the afternoon.
Just a couple of weeks later, and it was time for the celebration of Shavuot. Kids in the Little Chefs program were crafting Shavuot decorations, while more than 70 women enjoyed baking cheesecakes in preparation for the festival.
From Bowden in the south to Bury in The North, dozens of Synagogues enjoyed ice cream parties following the reading of the Ten Commandments, which were heard by thousands throughout the city. Students at Jewish Day schools in the Greater Manchester were all able to enter 
into a raffle for grand prizes if they listened to the Ten Commandments on the holiday.
A welcome sight at numerous of these synagogues were L’Chaim volunteers who marched on foot across the city to share the joy and meaning of Shavuot with the masses.
The success of the Shavuot and Lag B’Omer events left the community eagerly anticipating L’Chaim’s summer programs, but none more so than the CTeen leaders who - with tickets in hand - are gearing up for second annual European Shabbaton being hosted in Holland.
