Part #2 ”The first permit from the fire department”
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The following year 1995 was the turning point for the concept of Hadlokos in the USA and later to the entire globe.
It was obvious then that a fire department permit must be obtained in order to have a real celebration with no fear of getting the fire department to disturb the atmosphere of Tefilah, Devakus, and Simcha, but a severe debate erupted then between the askonim with a legitimate argument, in the Heimishe community the majority of all local askonim claimed that another fire celebration would seriously damage the enormous efforts put in for years to regulate the Serafas Chometz fires and in such advocating and encouraging for a second fire and a new affair that is just not a must. It was very difficult to obtain a permit. Even for Chometz burning the fire department was closing an eye on the Serafas Chometz fires adding a lag Baomer only a few weeks later will jeopardize their long years of efforts. Therefore only a handful of askonim even wanted to get involved, but it was the Rimanover Rebbe who said he will not give up! we need Rebbe Shimon Bar Youchai’s light and spirit with miracles here in the USA too. “With RASHBI’S merit, his kedusha in the streets, we must ignite the fire to distinguish the fire of the Yetzar Hara in the streets,” proclaimed the Rimanover Rebbe, and he insisted that it is doable. So it was the Rimanover Askonim, notably headed then by a young man from Boro Park Mr. Shlomo Heller, who devoted time and effort and with the intervention of a prominent askon and a police liaison Rabbi Berish Freilich who had a previous friendship with the Rebbe started their efforts to obtain a better permit. With Hashems Help, Rabbi Freilich got the police to grant a better permit that will also close the entire street by the police department itself. This permit will officially bring the police to close off the street of the Bais Hamedrash and so if the fire department will come they will not interfere in the work of the police. This was the advice from Rabbi Berish Freilich then, to light an Hadlaka outside the previous Rimanov Bais Hamedrash at 1639 46th Street. that will attract a very large attendance.
acting on his advice, A very intensive campaign was then launched with big posters on polls and walls and press ads, which brought a large turnout of people to the first public Hadloko at the nightfall of Lag Baomer. After the street was closed and it seemed a success a few Rebbe’s were also in attendance pouring oil and cotton to join this historical moment, such as the Lizensker Rebbe Harav Yossef Mayer from Monsey ZTL, and the Tenke Rav Harav Dovid Friedman ZTL. As the Rimanov Rebbe took the torch and lit the Hadloka, the music was playing and some attendees were seen shedding tears from their eyes, praying. It seemed as if a new light has come to the USA. But after 45 minutes suddenly the ”Satan” could not agree to such a thing of Kedusha happening for the first time in the street of the USA legally, and so, since the previous Rimanov Bais Hamerash was in very close proximity to the Stoloner, just a half a block from the Stoloner Bais Hamedrash on 16 av. a small group of young Bachurim took a garbage can placed it in the alleyway of the back yard and some private houses and lit it as a Hadloko. This immediately alarmed the neighbors, who called the fire department. They came and extinguished both Hadlokos. Rabbi Meir Piltchik who lived only a few houses away from the Batai Medrashim Felt very uncomfortable about what just happened the Rebbe’s Hadloka was disturbed he came over to the Rimanover Rebbe and committed himself that the following year a Fire department and police permits will be granted and the Rebbe will not have Agmos Nefash. He said, “I don’t know how but a Chossid gets done what the Rebbe wants!” And so he did, the following year in 1996 the Stoliner Askonim after trying all ways to have the fire department agree to the Hadlokos on Lag Baomer failed since the local Askonim did not help, being concerned that the Hadlokos will interfere with the Sereifas Chomitz Fires. The Rimanover Rebbe came up with an idea and communicated to Rabbi Meir Pilchik zl to send some neighbors who lived on the block to go to the fire department and ask for a permit and call it a ”Block Party” which includes a bonfire and grills. A block party was very popular in those years even in some boro park streets. This was a brilliant idea, Rabbi Meir got over 25 signatures to request a permit, and for the first time the fire and police department permit was granted to the Stolon kehila on 16 av. and to run into 46 St. to the Rimanover Kehila. at that point after heavy advertisements about the upcoming Stolin Hadloko most Askonim caved in and gave up some were even offered help by the police, not even knowing how the fire department granted a permit, More Kehilas could now join or have their own Block Party. This was in 1996 – תשנ”ו. [for the elders who remember lightning and thunderstorms with buckets of rain from above helped spoil the fire at nightfall but not the spirits!] The rest is history.
The Rimanover Rebbe has been traveling to different neighborhoods, cities, and countries to promote his initiative. Today, there are over 500 Hadlokos worldwide, outside of Israel, with thousands of attendees. In the year 2016, the Rimanover Rebbe started to introduce a Hadloka to conclude the Lag Baomer the first and second Hadloka took place in Lakewood just outside Srulowitz Bais Hamedrash והיה לעת ערב יהיה אור !
I would like to thank all involved who took the time to share with me their recollections and photos