Jewish community celebrates Lag B’Omer

The Bay state’s Jewish community on Tuesday celebrated the holiday of Lag B’Omer, a lifting of restrictions during the Omer, or period between Passover and Shavu’ot.

The days are counted from the second day of Passover -- which commemorates the freeing of the Israelite - to the night before the Shavu’ot - the giving of the Torah. Lag B’Omer falls on the 33rd day.

During the first 32 days of the Omer, weddings, parties, dancing and even haircuts are forbidden. This mourning period commemorates a plague, and Lag B’Omer celebrates a break in the plague.

A celebration hosted by the Chabad Center of Sharon at Borderland State Park on Tuesday drew about 100 people and included music, a softball game, barbeque and a petting zoo.

Giant ‘Cannorah’ to be kindled

SHARON - The construction of the first ever “Cannorah” in Sharon is going to be the highlight of the annual Chanukah celebration at Chabad of Sharon. You CAN light up a life. The Can Food Menorah is being organized, built and donated by Chabad of Sharon. You can participate by sponsoring some canned food which will be used to assemble the Menorah. The cans will be donated to local food pantries for families in need.

Chanukah is about bringing light into this world. A menorah built with food cans is sure to add more light into our world. After assembling the menorah candles will be placed on top and the Menorah will be kindled. In addition to the “Cannorah”, this year’s program will also feature Chanukah arts & crafts, holiday music, olive press demonstration, delicious Chanukah treats, and a Feature Circus Show.

The program will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21, from 2 – 5 p.m. at Chabad of Sharon, 162 North Main St. There is no fee. For more information please call the Chabad Center at (781) 784-4269.

Minyan before the Pats game

Fans of both teams daaven before kickoff

To a football fan, the hours before a game are sacred. Those hours are a communion for the fraternity of fans, a time when backseat coolers and portable grills transform stadium parking lots into a tailgate party.

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Last Sunday’s Patriots game was no exception. The New York Jets were in town – a division rival – for the first time since defeating the Pats 17-14 on their home turf. Adding to the drama was the win-or-go-home urgency of the playoffs.
Yet while most fans bonded over cold beers and grilled meats, a group of fans – supporters from both teams – met in a small corner of the Foxboro lot for quieter purposes: to say Minchah.
“It shows that if you really want to, you can find God wherever you are, under any circumstances,” said Rabbi Chaim Wolosow of the Chabad Center of Sharon. “We felt like the luckiest people in the universe to enjoy the game and still be able to pray. I would guess this was the first time a minyan was done at a Pats game.”
Earlier in the week, a group of New York fans contacted Wolosow to see if he knew enough people going to the game to form a minyan. Because of daylight restrictions, Minchah had to be said between 12:30 and 4 p.m., leaving a small window before the 1 p.m. kickoff. Planning on attending the game, Wolosow reached out to Sharon residents and found four other men with tickets – just enough to give them the required 10 for a minyan.
“They had the Jets shirts on and they got a few looks, and a little more than that from Pats fans,” said Wolosow. “We were OK, I guess, because we were on the right side. But for the service we all joined in together.”
As for the game, the Patriots won by 21 after letting the Jets hang around for the better part of four quarters. One would imagine that the ride home was especially deflating for those Jets fans. It’s a long ride back to New York before Ma’ariv.