Lag baomer

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
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

At the Hilula of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Manhattan: Rabbi Pinto Inspires the Masses

|ByDAVID BERGER
IN ITS QUIET way, the humble carob teaches us that meaningful traditions need not be elaborate.

Hiking the holy land in the season of Lag Ba'omer

One of the things that the holiday commemorates is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s death – the same sage who survived on carob while hiding in a cave.

|BySUSANNAH SCHILD
Hot dog and veggie skewers.

In the kitchen with Henny: BBQ bites

Chimichurri sauce, beef kebabs, hot dog & veggie skewers, and gluten-free graham crackers.

|ByHENNY SHOR

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.

MAY 19, 2022ByALON HACHMON/MAARIV ONLINE
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. 

MAY 19, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
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.

MAY 18, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
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.

MAY 18, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
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.

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

Police on high alert ahead of Meron Lag Ba’omer celebration

16,000 will be allowed on mountain at a time, only people with tickets to be let in.

MAY 17, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Jews visit at the Rashbi gravesite on the Eve of Rosh Chodesh in Meron, Northern Israel, on March 2, 2022.

Mount Meron, Lag Ba'omer: How to celebrate even after tragedy - opinion

I would humbly suggest that the answer lies deep in how we generally are to approach tragedy and challenge in life.

MAY 16, 2022BySIMCHA SCHOLAR
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.

Lag Ba'omer: How will Israel prevent the next Mount Meron tragedy?

It has been one year since the tragic events on Mount Meron. How have we been dealing with the fallout, and what meaningful changes have been made to prevent a future catastrophe?

MAY 14, 2022ByELIAV BREUER, YONAH JEREMY BOB
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.

The Omer: Counting the days from Passover to Shavuot

Counting the Omer links us to the words of the Psalms: “Number your days so that you may acquire a heart of wisdom.” 

MAY 14, 2022ByDVORA WAYSMAN
The children in Jerusalem are already anticipating it.

I am crying a year later after the Meron tragedy

I am very angry because I know there were human errors that caused the deaths.

MAY 14, 2022ByDAVID GEFFEN
A SIGN warns of construction work at the Meron site for the coming week’s Lag Ba’omer celebrations, in this photo taken last month. Guardians of the site assure us that the new rules and the essential ‘missing’ construction has been completed.