Family outing to praise Jewish unity
By Deborah Moon Seldner
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On a festive holiday rooted in Jewish unity, Portland's Jewish community fittingly will unite for the eighth year to present a community-wide party for all ages.
This year's free, community-wide Lag B'Omer celebration at Alpenrose Dairy, 6149 S.W. Shattuck Road, will be from 5 to 8 p.m., May 16. Coordinated by Chabad of Oregon with the endorsement of dozens of synagogues and Jewish organizations from across the spectrum, the celebration features fun activities for all ages.
Lag B'Omer is Hebrew for the 33rd day of counting of the omer (sheaves of barley), which begins on the second day of Passover.
"In the time of the Mishnah, 24,000 students of the great teacher Rabbi Akiva died between Passover and Lag B'Omer—the deaths ended on Lag B'Omer," said Chabad of Oregon Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm. "It is said they died due to a lack of respect between one another. Rabbi Akiva is the one who promulgated the idea that loving your fellow is the basis of the whole Torah. He taught that the commandment 'Love your fellow as yourself' is an all encompassing rule of the Torah."
"The deaths ceased with the return of unity, so Lag B'Omer is a day for all of us to emphasize our unity and love and caring for one another," said Wilhelm. "That is why Chabad, eight years ago, instituted this event—for the purpose of all the community regardless of age or affiliation coming together in a pleasurable environment."
This year's festivities will include live music, jugglers and clowns near the bandstand. Carnival games, face painting, balloons, pony wagon rides and a moon bounce should entertain the younger celebrants while a chess competition is open to all ages. The buildings of Dairyville will be open for all to explore. Check out the model train show rooms, opera house, old town bank, confectionary, school house, trading post, barber shop and harness room. Visit the ponies in the pony barn.
Food will be available for purchase. Visit the vintage Ice Cream Parlor for some kosher parve sorbet. Or buy a caf? style kosher dinner at the YidInn. Dinner will be catered by chef Eric Wayne, who will use Chabad's kosher kitchens to prepare the meals. Admission is free with Kosher food available for purchase. For more information, call Chabad at 503-977-9947.