Thirty-three cars were accompanied by live music and the police departments of Hillside and Elizabeth in front and in back, enlivening the streets of Hillside and Elizabeth, New Jersey. A flat-bed truck led the procession with Levi Kumer as the driver while both Mordy Kurtz sang and Uri Abramov of Olam DJ played music on the back of the truck.

Rabbi Avremy and Chaya Kanelsky (youth and Torah education directors) were the organizers of this event and the parade route. Levi and Rivki Kumer arranged the rental of the leading truck along with a “bonfire” that was placed on the truck that had artificial smoke and fire coming out of it. Dovi Abraham of Zikron Digital arranged the sound system, and photographers Mendel and Brochie Mishulovin followed the procession on scooters shooting videos and photos from both sides of the parade.

Chanie Hoffer and Shaina Cohen, together with a group of women, decorated each car with floats of different mivtzoyim of the Rebbe and the 12 Pesukim. Pre-Recorded Pesukim were recited with different children from the community and the songs of “Love Your Fellow Jew” were bursting from the first truck. The Wilansky boys Boruch and Shneur dressed up as clowns and brought much excitement to the streets.

Thousands of families and residents of Hillside and Elizabeth cheered from their doors, windows, porches and lawns. Rabbi Mordechai and Shterney Kanelsky followed the first truck and expressed great appreciation to the police department, the first responders, Hatzalah of Union County and especially to every one in the community who decorated their car and joined the parade despite the fact that we are still in the midst of a raging global pandemic.

This was all achieved within accordance to the social distancing guidelines. In the merit of this tremendous display of achdus may we be zoche to the ultimate coming of Moshiach now!