There won’t be Gemoros and Chasiddus today. Rashi will not argue with Tosfos and Chavrosos won’t be breaking the Rashba down. Today there will be a lot of red bull, sugar, jumping up and down, screaming and dancing.

Usually Reb Yisroel Freedmen’s classroom is full with bochurim and their seforim, but today a large worn box of costumes is dropped off as the guys start to arrive. As hats and jackets are removed the atmosphere in the room transitions to what you may find in the dressing room of the circus. One bochur becomes the makeup artist while others become wardrobe assistants. While some dress in old ill fitting clown costumes others get into chicken jumpsuits their dads sweated in decades ago. Pockets full with candy, big red smiles painted on there faces and a bit of ‘hydration’ and the clowns are ready for the Lag Baomer Parade!!!

Lag Baomer is a Jewish holiday on the 33rd day of the “omer counting“. It is celebrated with outings (on which the children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, and other joyous events. When Lag Baomer falls out on a sunday, there is a huge parade with close to 30,000 children promoting Jewish pride.

You can read more about Lag Baomer here.