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


Northern District Police Commander and Meron witness Shimon Lavi quits - report

Shortly after the Meron tragedy, Lavi became the first to speak about what had occurred and said that he was willing to take responsibility for the tragedy.

Commander of the Northern District Police Superintendent Shimon Lavi, the first witness of the Meron committee on August 22.

Ex-NSC chief Ben Shabbat: Our oversight of Mt. Meron disaster ‘minimal’

The commission of inquiry is looking into top officials who had a potential wide view of problems leading to the disaster which killed 45 people.

 Former National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat arrives to tesitfy before the Meron Disaster Inquiry Committee, in Jerusalem, on July 10, 2022.

Mount Meron inquiry: Deri shirks responsibility, 'I had no authority'

Former interior minister Arye Deri maintained that he was never aware of or had any authority over the safety of the structures themselves on the site.

 Former Israeli MK Aryeh Deri arrives to tesitfy before the Meron Disaster Inquiry Committee, in Jerusalem, on June 2, 2022.

The last week was one of melancholy - opinion

The passing of a seasoned radio presenter, the war in Ukraine, riots on Meron and a defecting MK all made last week very melancholy.

 Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police during Lag Ba'omer celebrations, in Meron, on May 19, 2022.

Lag Ba'omer: Riots break out at Meron, site closed to further visitors

Women and children at the scene were evacuated by police after extremist Haredim began violently rioting.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police during Lag Ba'omer celebrations, in Meron, on May 19, 2022.

IDF, Shin Bet, Border Police arrest 13 terrorism suspects in the West Bank

Israeli security forces were active in several areas throughout the West Bank, including the villages of al-'Arub, 'Abidia, Rifida, Bidu and the Qalandiya refugee camp. 

 Israeli soldiers secure the scene after a Palestinian assailant attempted to stab Israeli soldiers, near the Hawara checkpoint, outside the West Bank city of Nablus, May 17, 2022.

Lag Ba'omer 2022: Jews celebrate across Israel - in pictures

Here is how Jews across Israel celebrated Lag Ba'omer this year.

 Ultra orthodox Jews celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'omer, in ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, in Jerusalem, on May 18, 2022.

Lag Ba'omer: Celebrations resume at Meron, one year after deadly tragedy - watch

One year after the disaster at Meron killed 45 people, police have set up new protocols for this year's celebrations.

Grand Rabbi of Boyan (Hasidic dynasty) lights candles in memory of the 45 lost lives at last year's Mount Meron disaster, during Lag Baomer celebrations, in Meron on May 18, 2022.

Hassidic sect members arrested for attempting to sabotage Meron celebrations

A group of extremist hassidic sect members was arrested for attempting to sabotage infrastructure on Mount Meron.

 Israel Police forces arrest a member of an extremist hassidic sect on Mount Meron on May 17, 2022

Fmr. interior minister was unaware of unsafe structures on Mount Meron

Although Yishai said that he had tried to make changes and reforms to the situation, the factual record shows that he did not approve any new plan.

Arye Deri and Eli Yishai