Minister of Religious Services David Azoulay will direct the relevant officials to formulate clear criteria to regulate the issuing of permits for very important people to visit the Tomb of Rabbi Shim'on Bar Yochai at the base of Mount Meron in the central Galilee on Lag B'Omer.
The move follows a meeting between Azoulay and Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush, in which they discussed the lack of criteria as one of the reasons for chaos during the Lag B'Omer observances at the holy site. Sources close to Porush explained, "If community leaders can prepare in advance and get clear information about the possibility of going up by vehicle to Meron, identifying those who are going up through VIP cards and the time of their arrival, it will be possible to relieve stress at the site and avoid unnecessary aggravation."