Hollywood & Hallandale Beach  

Posted on Sun, May. 13, 2007

HOLLYWOOD | TEMPLE BETH EL FESTIVAL

A joyful break in the mourning

An outdoor festival for the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer was celebrated with dancing, pie-eating contests, even the renewal of wedding vows.

BY BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL

Special to The Miami Herald

With wedding vows and Israeli dancing for grown-ups and plenty of games and contests for the younger set, the little-known holiday of Lag B'Omer took on greater significance last weekend at Temple Beth El. This was the first year the Reform Jewish congregation at 1351 S. 14th Ave. in Hollywood celebrated Lag B'Omer.

''It's a celebration of a holiday that's often overlooked,'' said Manny Silver, Beth El's cantor. Orthodox synagogues observe the holiday more often than others.

Lag B'Omer is the 33rd of the 49 days between Passover, which commemorates the ancient Israelites' freedom from slavery in Egypt, and Shavuot, which celebrates Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.

Because the 49-day period is marked by mourning, customs such as cutting one's hair and having wedding ceremonies are not permitted. The exception is on Lag B'Omer, which provides a festive break.

At Temple Beth El, parents smiled as their children competed in contests and played games. Jan Langer kept an eye on her 6-year-old twins as they tested their skills on a mini-archery range.

Allison and Robyn shot their arrows at a large target, but once just wasn't enough. Both turned around and got in line for another turn.

Temple leaders added a bake sale to raise money for orphanages in Haiti, and they brought in a local blues band.

The combination gave the Jewish observance a joyous feel, said Rabbi Allan Tuffs, spiritual leader of Beth El.

Hosting a festival like Lag B'Omer brings everyone together, Silver said. ''I'm enjoying the sense of community,'' he said.

People took part in pie-eating contests, ate cotton candy, roasted marshmallows and formed circles for traditional Israeli dancing.

David Silverstone took a break from performing with his band Blue Wolf and watched his children, Jesse, 3, and Marissa, 7, playing in a bounce house.

The band entertained all afternoon with renditions of songs by blues greats Junior Wells, B.B. King and Muddy Waters.

Silverstone, an attorney from Hollywood and the band's lead guitarist, said he loves it when they get to play outdoors.

While Tuffs and others boogied to Blue Wolf, couples like Sharon and Neil Tanenhaus sat at picnic tables, having just renewed their marriage vows. The couple will celebrate 26 years in August.

''We were going to renew our vows for our 25th anniversary, but my parents fell ill,'' Neil Tanenhaus said. ``When I heard they were renewing vows [today], I said let's do it.''

The couple's 10-year-old son, Seth, was in charge of taking photographs.

He said watching his parents get married was ''cool,'' and he took his duties very seriously.

''The kissing part was a little gross, but I made them kiss a second time to get the photo,'' he said.

Kevin McCloskey   

Phone: 786-402-0942

Email: kevin@evergladesarchers.com