Mount Meron

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
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

Israel Police announced on Sunday morning that the annual Lag Ba’omer pilgrimage at Mount Meron will not take place, and that roads leading to the area have already been blocked.

|BySHIR PERETS, ANNA BARSKY
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

News guidelines were announced on Sunday night that only up to 1,500 people would be permitted to gather in the communities in the vicinity of Mount Meron: Safsofa, Or HaGanuz, Bar Yochai, and Meron.

|ByMICHAEL STARR

Police chief brushed off fears of Mount Meron capacity limit - ops head

Senior officer testifies he failed to convince Shabtai to limit the number of participants

JANUARY 9, 2022ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
The bodies of the victims of the tragedy at Mount Meron on Lag Ba'omer.

Meron probe paused after COVID-19 exposure, inquiry chair quarantined

The state inquiry proceedings have paused pending inquiry chairwoman Miriam Naor's PCR test results.

DECEMBER 28, 2021ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Members of the Meron disaster commission (L-R) former Bnei Brak mayor Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz, Commission chair and former chief justice Miriam Naor and former IDF planning chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Shlomo Yanai seen during the Meron Disaster Inquiry Committee, in Jerusalem, on August 22, 2021.

Jerusalem man missing since Monday found dead near Amirim

The young man was declared missing after he was last seen on Monday in Meron near the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

DECEMBER 25, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays outside the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Mt. Meron in northern Israel on May 6, 2020

Israel and the world’s best photojournalism on display

“The photographers work with respect for their subjects, and the subject matter,” said curator Galia Gur Zeev. “They reflect the events that are taking place."

DECEMBER 22, 2021ByBARRY DAVIS
PHOTO OF The Year was awarded to Natan Dvir’s compelling chromatic shot of octogenarian residents of Ashkelon whose home took a direct hit from a Hamas rocket during Operation Guardian of the Walls.

Mount Meron to close if insurance policy not renewed - report

This follows the disastrous crush incident in April, which saw 45 people killed on the Lag Ba'omer holiday.

DECEMBER 14, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Jewish worshippers sing and dance as they stand on tribunes at the Lag B'Omer event in Mount Meron on April 29, 2021

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.

Justice minister to green light Case 3000 state inquiry

Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar has announced that the would approve a state inquiry into the "Submarine Affair."

OCTOBER 3, 2021ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
WILL THE Submarine Affair eventually sink Netanyahu?

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.

Top police official: Politicians refused to limit Meron attendance

The Mount Meron investigations committee began taking witness statements on Sunday morning, with the commander of the Northern District Police Superintendent Shimon Lavi as the first witness

AUGUST 22, 2021ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Commander of the Northern District Police Superintendent Shimon Lavi, the first witness of the Meron committee on August 22.

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