Lag baomer

Police disperse hundreds of civilians from Mount Meron attempting to light fires for Lag Ba'omer

"We clarify that, given the security situation and the Home Front Command's instructions, staying in the mountain area without a permit constitutes a danger to the public," said the police.

|ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
View of the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron, northern Israel, May 1, 2024.
View of the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron, northern Israel, May 1, 2024.

A responsible choice: Why canceling Lag Ba’omer at Mount Meron was the right call - editorial

The fires of Lag Ba’omer will burn again on the slopes of Meron. What matters is that when they do, they come back to a country that chose, at the right moment, to be careful.

|ByJPOST EDITORIAL
18th-century prayerbook of Luria’s teachings to go on display at ANU.

18th-century prayer book of Luria’s teachings to go on display at ANU ahead of Lag Ba’omer

The holiday will be marked at the museum with the unveiling of a unique siddur from Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as Ha'ari.

|ByHANNAH BROWN
Rabbi Elimelech Biderman with his followers celebrate the jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, in Meron. May 9, 2023

Lag Ba’omer reminds us to choose respect over division among Jews - opinion

Rabbi Akiva’s students remind us that respect and unity are essential to Jewish spiritual life.

|ByKENNETH BRANDER

Crowd limits, staggered visitation recommended for celebrations at Meron

State Commission of Inquiry into Meron disaster recommends staggering the arrival of pilgrims to the holy site for the coming Lag Ba’omer celebation, limiting maximum number allowed on site.

NOVEMBER 22, 2021ByJEREMY SHARON
Jewish worshippers sing and dance as they stand on tribunes at the Lag Ba’omer event on Mount Meron on April 29.

Meron Disaster: Kotel Rabbi blames variety of groups

Holy Sites rabbi slams extremist haredim, police, Justice Ministry.

AUGUST 23, 2021ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Workers are seen removing bleachers on Mount Meron, on July 1, 2021.

Meron investigation committee visits Meron

Three committee members inspected the walkway, Toldot Aron plaza, where mass crush leading to the death of 45 men and boys took place in April.

AUGUST 2, 2021ByJEREMY SHARON
Three Meron committee members investigating

Mount Meron tragedy: Government to approve state commission of inquiry

On April 30, 45 men and boys, mostly ultra-Orthodox died in a mass crush on Mount Meron, the site of the tomb of Talmudic sage Shimon Bar Yohai.

JUNE 20, 2021ByJEREMY SHARON
Jewish worshippers sing and dance as they stand on tribunes at the Lag Ba’omer event on Mount Meron on April 29.

'A gold standard for aliyah' Zionism in the face of Israel-hatred today

I like to recall my own epiphany: that moment when I knew I would live in Israel.

JUNE 17, 2021ByBARBARA SOFER
THE GOLD family gathering at Kibbutz Nir Etzion.

Tragedy on Mount Meron: Have we learned anything?

Was it the ecstasy of being near the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai that robbed them of their basic senses?

MAY 12, 2021ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Jewish worshippers sing and dance as they stand on tribunes at the Lag Ba’omer event on Mount Meron on April 29.

14-Day news roundup: Meron tragedy

Israeli news highlights from the past two weeks.

MAY 12, 2021BySTEVE LINDE
The bodies of the victims of the tragedy at Mount Meron on Lag Ba'omer.

Mount Meron: Understanding the Lag Ba'omer calamity

The holiday is meant to represent the move from sorrow to joy. That’s why the Meron disaster is so ironically tragic.

MAY 12, 2021BySTEVE LINDE
An illustration of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (circa 80-160)

After Meron, Israel needs a culture of true accountability - editorial

Zero people have had anything happen to them despite 45 people losing their lives in the greatest civilian tragedy in Israel’s 73-year history. Zero.

MAY 8, 2021ByJPOST EDITORIAL
Ultra-Orthodox Jews look at stairs with waste on it in Mount Meron, northern Israel, where fatalities were reported among the thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage for annual commemorations that include all-night prayer and dance, April 30, 2021.

Meron tragedy throws up questions of faith

And the most pervasive question of all: Why did God allow this to happen?

MAY 7, 2021BySTEWART WEISS
PEOPLE CELEBRATE the lighting of a bonfire on Mount Meron during Lag Ba’omer last month.