Mount Meron tragedy

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
The real festivities begin when a huge bonfire is lit at midnight on Lag Ba'omer.

Celebrating Lag Ba’omer, a heroic chapter in Jewish history - opinion

During Bar Kochba’s revolt against the Romans, a terrible epidemic struck Rabbi Akiva’s students, and 24,000 men lost their lives. The epidemic suddenly stopped on Lag Ba’omer.

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

C'mtee decides to limit bonfires at Mt. Meron ahead of annual pilgrimage

Last year, the event was cancelled due to Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israeli soldiers guard the bodies of victims of an attack following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023.

The True conception: We continue to be endangered by our own assumptions

Let's at least be honest with ourselves: the conception is still here. We already know its price. See, we've been warned.

|ByMOSHE KLUGHAFT

Israel must take the Abraham Accords to the Palestinians - opinion

The Abraham Accords have changed the region, but their full potential has yet to be realized, not just with the Gulf but also with the Palestinians.

JULY 21, 2022ByYAAKOV KATZ
WORKERS HANG large Palestinian and Israeli flags in Ramat Gan, in June.

'He didn't know?' Netanyahu slammed for testimony on Meron disaster

In their remarks, coalition members slammed Netanyahu for refusing to take responsibility for a disaster that claimed the lives of 45 people.

JULY 21, 2022ByROMAN MEITAV
MEMORIALIZING THE 45 victims killed in the Meron stampede, at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square on May 2

Netanyahu on Meron tragedy: I cannot be responsible for what I did not know

After his testimony, the committee will summarize the materials in its possession and publish warning letters to those deemed responsible for the disaster.

JULY 21, 2022ByROMAN MEITAV
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits at the scene on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021.

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.

JULY 18, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
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.

JULY 10, 2022ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
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.

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