Parade Brings Tears to Medical Heroes (And a Young Girl)

By COLlive reporter

A unique Lag BaOmer car parade set out to the streets of Brooklyn on Tuesday to show appreciation to medical personnel and first responders on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The parade was arranged by Rabbi Ari and Chaya Kirschenbaum, directors of Chabad Heights of Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood, and included over 35 cars of members of their community.

Rabbi Kirschenbaum hit upon the idea of the parade as he was thinking of ways to plan a community event to mark the day when we celebrate the end of the pandemic that killed the students of Rabbi Akiva, amid restrictions on gathering.

“What better way to celebrate by expressing our appreciation to others, especially those who are risking their own lives to help so many people every day?” he said.

The plans for the drive-by parade came together in just a week and a half, Rabbi Kirschenbaum told COLlive.com.

“Last week, we weren’t sure it was going to happen,” he said. “People were still unsure about taking part, they were concerned about social distancing, and whether it could be accomplished.”

However, when Rabbi Kirschenbaum called his local NYPD precinct, he was told that “there is no law against cars following each other,” and they agreed to take part in the parade, after he assured them that all CDC protocol would be adhered to. The local fire departments were happy to take part as well.

The parade was produced by local community members who pooled their talents and donated balloons, signs, food packages and more. For many of the participants, it was an emotional experience as many hadn’t seen each other in two months, due to being in isolation.

The impressive parade through the streets of Brooklyn included a procession of police cars, fire trucks, and 35 cars from the community. Loudspeakers played a heartfelt message of appreciation to the frontline heroes and festive music.

Spectators came out of their homes, and cheered and clapped as the fire trucks honked their horns.

Also joining the parade was local resident Cantor Aaron Gerstel, who has been driving to Manhattan every day over the past few weeks, and serenading doctors and nurses near hospitals at their shift changes with our National Anthem and G-d Bless America.

The procession passed by a local Senior Center on S. Marks Place, where the nurses stood outside and residents watched from the windows.

Across from the nursing home, a family watched from their ground floor windows, and emotionally related to Rabbi Kirschenbaum that it was their 4-year-old daughter’s birthday, who had been in isolation for nearly 2 months.

“We sang an impromptu ‘Happy Birthday’ to her, and handed her some treats. Her mother was in tears. She said we gave her daughter the best birthday she could ever ask for.”

The next stop was coordinated with the assistance of Rabbi Avrohom Lider, Chaplain of Kings County and Rabbi Yitzchok Holtzman, Chaplain of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

The two hospitals are across the street from each other, so medical personnel, doctors, nurses and staff all stood outside while the procession stopped in front of Kings County Hospital. Also joining was Dr. Wayne J. Riley, President of SUNY Downstate.

A special mention was made of the respiratory team, and the place “just erupted in cheers and applause,” Rabbi Kirschenbaum said.

“The whole event was beyond emotional,” Rabbi Kirschenbaum said. “These men and women have been getting battered. Brooklyn has been a hotspot for coronavirus cases, and they are on the front lines, risking their lives every day – and they were being truly acknowledged for the first time,” he said. “And what better way to express the theme of Ahavas Yisroel, unity and compassion then on the day of Lag Baomer and so central to the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.”

“In my 35 years working here, there was never such a Kiddush Hashem,” Rabbi Lider said. “The people who participated in this parade will never know the positive effects which will come from this, it will have an effect for years to come,” he said.

Rabbi Kirschenbaum says he hopes this parade will become a yearly tradition, even during non-corona times.

“Next year, G-d willing in better times, perhaps this tradition should continue,” he said. “Why shouldn’t we do this every year on Lag BaOmer, spend the day showing appreciation to all those who do so much for us? After all they are our true heroes and role models we and our children can emulate.”

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