by tskzThis year’s celebrations of Lag BaOmer were a great opportunity for a community-building event. On Saturday, 23 May, members of the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland, representing its different branches scattered all around Poland, gathered together at the Grand Jewish and Roma Family Picnic held in the vicinity of Warsaw.
The community weekend had actually started a day earlier, that is on Friday evening, with a Shabbat dinner. Sharing a festive meal provided an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new people. On Sunday, the TSKŻ members who had come from across the country were joined by their Warsaw colleagues.
At 1:00 p.m. the joyful outdoor picnic festivities began. The artistic programme provided the audience with many uplifting moments. The first ones to perform during the event were sisters Zofia and Czesława Rajfer, who delighted our members with a repertoire of Hebrew and Yiddish songs. They were followed by The Dixie Fellows, who took to the stage with a selection of hits from the interwar period composed by musicians of Jewish origin, presented in the band’s original arrangements. These well-known melodies perfectly complemented the picnic atmosphere and put everyone in a festive, cheerful mood. The undisputed highlight of the programme was a performance by Bogdan Trojanek and Terne Roma. The band’s vibrant Roma music, rich in distinctive rhythms, captivated the audience and drew many participants onto the dance floor.
One of the most popular attractions of the event was the making of beautiful floral wreaths. These natural decorations quickly turned out to be a favourite among participants, with long lines forming throughout the day. Both children and adults enthusiastically adorned their heads with colourful flower creations, adding even more charm to the festive atmosphere.
And, of course, the youngest participants were not forgotten! Face painting, colourful braids, glitter tattoos, popcorn, cotton candy, oversized board games, and spectacular chemistry workshops were among the many attractions organised by the animators from Mr Rabbit’s Academy, keeping children entertained throughout the day.
The picnic proved to be a truly multigenerational community event. It brought together participants of all ages, from children and young people to older attendees who remain young at heart. Everyone was in great spirits, the weather could not have been better, and the delicious food added the finishing touch to an atmosphere of shared celebration.
The grand finale of the event was a spectacular fire performance, combining carefully choreographed routines with striking visual effects. It captivated the audience and served as a memorable conclusion to a day of celebration and togetherness.
Thank you all for being with us and helping make this event so special. We are already looking forward to seeing you again at our future events!
(Photo by: P. Woźniakiewicz)
The event was made possible thanks to the grant provided by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration.
