Lag B’Omer: 18,000 hits hoped for but 40,000 turned up
May 12, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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The online “18 for 18” initiative Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks predicted would make history has not only made history, but it has also exceeded even the most ambitious expectations of the organisers with more than double of the hoped-for hits.
Rabbi Moshe Kahn and Rabbi Motty Liberow at the studio
The aim was to bring together 18,000 Jews from across Australia and New Zealand for 18 minutes of Jewish unity and pride on Lag B’omer. But the viewing audience surpassed the anticipated number and the event has been hailed by its organisers as “simply astonishing”.
According to data analytics gathered from viewership on the multiple platforms through which the event was broadcast, over 40,000 Jewish people of all ages gathered online for a kaleidoscope of Jewish music, teachings and inspiration. Viewers watched the live stream via multiple platforms including Facebook, Youtube and the official website.
“This is a truly amazing display of unity, I’m so proud to be Jewish,” said one of the online participants, a message that resonated palpably among the thousands of comments that flooded the live feed. “The coronavirus can separate us but nothing can stop us celebrating Jewish life together,” said another.The event reached far beyond the Jewish communities of Australia and New Zealand with participants logging in from many countries around the world.
But the event did not end after the 18-minute production was broadcast, or even at the conclusion of the after-party which featured singers and magicians to entertain the thousands of children in the audience. An immediate follow-up initiative has been launched urging the Jewish communities of Australia and New Zealand to collectively commit to 18000 acts of kindness.
“We cannot allow the inspiration to dissipate without translating it into making this world a better place”, said a spokesperson for the organising committee, “we must allow the spiritual high we’ve all felt over the past 24 hours to inspire our acts of altruism and to strengthen our Jewish traditions”.
The event was made possible with the generous support of three major sponsors including Do Good Labs, Tommy and Issy Jacob, and the family of Nechama bat Bracha, together with a volunteer steering committee of over one hundred people and participation of over two hundred Jewish organizations.
The video production can still be viewed online via the following website:
Very, very disappointing- why we need to use artists from Miami, LA and NY to represent Australian / NZ is beyond me.