Mount Meron

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.

View of the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron, northern Israel, May 1, 2024.
Jewish worshippers visit the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi) in Meron, northern Israel, ahead of the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer, May 1, 2026.

Religious protesters plan to storm Mount Meron in defiance of police orders ahead of Lag Ba'omer

 Compound 89 in Meron is seen ahead of next week’s Lag BaOmer celebrations, as police conduct an inspection tour around the tomb complex, April 26, 2026

Five years after disaster, Israel limits Lag Ba'omer celebrations on Meron amid security fears

Rabbi Eliezer Berland and Rabbi Ofer Erez

High Court rejects petition to prevent convicted sex offender Berland from lighting Meron torch


Not only in Meron: Thousands will participate in Rabbi Pinto’s bonfire in Ashdod


First two foreign lawsuits over Meron disaster demand 3.5 million shekels each

The New Jersey families of Elazar Yitzahk Koltai, 13, and Donny Morris, 19, are seeking NIS 3.5 million each in damages from the authorities that had overseen the holy site at the time of Lag BaOmer

The memorial for the victims of the Mount Meron tragedy was found destroyed on the ground, July 14, 2021

Israeli sex offender rabbi should be banned from Lag Ba'omer event - NGO

Berland was convicted of sexual assault in 2016 of multiple women and other offenses including fraud, embezzlement, attempted threats, tax offenses and money laundering in 2021.

 Rabbi Eliezer Berland covered with a prayer shawl arrives for a court hearing arrives for a police investigation at a police station in Jerusalem, November 2, 2021.

Almost 2 years after tragedy, Meron celebrations regulated under new law

In line with recommendations of the Meron Committee, one central bonfire will be light at the tomb, with additional bonfires for religious study.

 FUNERAL FOR brothers Yosef David Elhadar and Moshe Mordechai Elhadar (opposite, far right), killed in the Meron tragedy; flames of remembrance for 45 victims; both May 2, 2021.

Meron disaster victims demand MK Porush be reinstated as Meron celebration supervisor

Haredi MK Meir Porush resigned from his role as supervisor of the Lag B’Omer Meron celebrations earlier on Tuesday.

Meir Porush, Minister of Jerusalem and Israel's Traditions, March 27, 2019.

Netanyahu, prepare now to ensure Israeli Lag Ba'omer safety - Meron panel

While Lag Ba'omer is five months away, the committee members wrote that they felt the matter was urgent and brought it to Netanyahu's attention.

Jewish worshippers sing and dance as they stand on tribunes at the Lag Ba’omer event on Mount Meron on April 29.

Ex-Israel Police official: Guardian of the Walls was just the beginning

Retired police official Uri Bar-Lev warned that the police "will not be able to meet their goals; the next incident will be much more serious."

Lt.-Col. Dori Saar during Operation Guardian of the Walls.

Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai is a disgrace - editorial

Israel deserves a better police force and the police deserve a better chief. It will be impossible to truly rehabilitate the police while Kobi Shabtai remains in the top position.

 Chief of police Kobi Shabtai, Minister of Public Security Omer Bar Lev and Israeli police officers at the Israel Police Independence Day ceremony at the National Headquarters of the Israel Police in Jerusalem May 1, 2022.

Police requests for reinforcements before Meron Disaster went unanswered - report

"We need reinforcements...Where are all the officers who are lounging around? They need to come here!" pleaded officers over radio.

Israeli rescue forces and police near the scene of a stampede that killed dozens and wounded dozens over 100 during the celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021

Haredi MK demands full control over Meron disaster probe from Netanyahu

Sources involved in the negotiations say that a final decision on Porush's demands has not been made yet and that it "remains in discussion."

Meir Porush, Minister of Jerusalem and Israel's Traditions, March 27, 2019.