News and updates about Meron

Police enforce Meron ban with fire extinguisher

Several dozen people were forced out of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai after violating the ban on holding celebrationsat the site.

Police enforce Meron ban with fire extinguisher

Meron Disaster:

Committee finds Netanyahu personally responsible

Three years after the tragedy, the committee for investigating the Meron disaster has published findings declaring several officials personally responsible for the tragedy.

Committee finds Netanyahu personally responsible

IDU holds special exercise in Gaza region

Working dogs and handlers trained for a variety of scenarios in sites simulating the wreckage of the October 7th massacre.

IDU holds special exercise in Gaza region

Hezbollah: We damaged strategic IAF control center

Hezbollah claims that its rocket barrages over Shabbat struck direct hits on the IAF air traffic control center near Meron.

Hezbollah: We damaged strategic IAF control center

Police to block access to Meron

Visitors arriving by public transportation, private minibus, will not be allowed to access the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Police to block access to Meron

Jerusalem Ministry:

'Evacuees need support - we're here for them'

The director of the Jerusalem Ministry tells what his city is doing to help evacuees continue a normal life.

'Evacuees need support - we're here for them'

Wounded man's daughters:

'The girls saw their father bleeding right in front of them'

Tamar Kapach, wife of El-Roi who was wounded in yesterday's shooting attack near Tekoa, recounted the difficult moments she experienced.

'The girls saw their father bleeding right in front of them'

Minister of Galilee visits Meron search and rescue station

Minister Yitzchak Wasserlauf met with the volunteers working to solve several disappearances in the Galilee region.

Minister of Galilee visits Meron search and rescue station

State renews process to take control of Meron site

State officials have called to renew the push to have the state take control of the Tomb of R. Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron.

State renews process to take control of Meron site

Families of missing persons meet search and rescue workers

Israel Dog Unit hosts event allowing families of missing persons to meet the volunteers searching for their loved ones.

Families of missing persons meet search and rescue workers

'Meron plan proved itself, we'll improve it next year'

'The plan proved itself, over 100,000 people visited Meron on Lag Ba'omer,' Jerusalem Min. Porush says.

'Meron plan proved itself, we'll improve it next year'

Pictures:

Religious Zionist torchlighting ceremony in Meron

Thousands attend Lag B'Omer torchlighting ceremony at the Bnei Akiva compound in Meron.

Religious Zionist torchlighting ceremony in Meron

Watch:

Central Lag Ba'Omer celebration of Religious Zionism in Meron

Bonfire lighting with Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Rabbi David Dudkevich and Yehoshua Weitzman, together with yeshiva leaders.

Central Lag Ba'Omer celebration of Religious Zionism in Meron

Live: Thousands at Lag Ba'Omer celebration in Meron

Annual celebration held at tomb of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Live: Thousands at Lag Ba'Omer celebration in Meron

Druze security guard assaulted in Meron for speaking Arabic

Guard providing security at site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's grave brutally assaulted by group of youths and hospitalized.

Druze security guard assaulted in Meron for speaking Arabic

Lag Ba'omer: Mount Meron capacity expanded to 50,000

United Hatzalah announces completion of preparations for Lag BaOmer festivities in Meron, as police expand site's capacity to 50,000.

Lag Ba'omer: Mount Meron capacity expanded to 50,000

Government Ministry:

Convicted cult leader Eliezer Berland won't light Meron bonfire

Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Ministry pledges that disgraced ex-convict cult leader Eliezer Berland won't be honored at Lag BaOmer event.

Convicted cult leader Eliezer Berland won't light Meron bonfire

Itamar Ben-Gvir: 'Last year I saw suffering in Meron'

Police commend efforts to prepare for Lag Ba'omer in Meron, say staff took 'full responsibility' for the event.

Itamar Ben-Gvir: 'Last year I saw suffering in Meron'

Policeman who hit Meron visitor to stand trial

Department for investigating police officers announces decision to try policeman who hit haredi man last Lag Ba'omer.

Policeman who hit Meron visitor to stand trial

Haredi MK:

'Large number of people will be able to come to Meron'

MK Meir Porush discusses Lag Ba'omer celebrations, Draft Law. 'When Gantz was DM he agreed to things Lapid opposed.'

'Large number of people will be able to come to Meron'

Lag b'Omer in Meron:

New hotline open to public in advance of festivities

Outline for this year complete in accordance with commission of inquiry's recommendations.

New hotline open to public in advance of festivities

One year later:

Missing teen's mother visits search area

This past Sunday, Giti Kleinerman visited the place where her son Avraham Moshe vanished.

Missing teen's mother visits search area

Lag B'omer celebrations transferred to Ministry of Jerusalem

A ministerial meeting saw the responsibilities for the annual celebration in Meron formally moved to the Ministry of Jerusalem.

Lag B'omer celebrations transferred to Ministry of Jerusalem

Bones found in cave in Meron sent for DNA analysis

Remains recovered from cave in northern Israel sent to Abu Kabir forensics lab for testing.

Bones found in cave in Meron sent for DNA analysis

Three mysterious disappearances, one major search effort

The search continues for three Israelis who vanished in the Meron region.

Three mysterious disappearances, one major search effort

Holocaust survivor who helped found Meron dies

'Hidden righteous' man Rabbi Yaakov Tanenbaum, who helped found the town of Meron, dies at 100.

Holocaust survivor who helped found Meron dies

Special needs camp blesses searchers for missing teen

A special needs camp blessed the Israel Dog Unit that they should find missing teen Moishe Kleinerman - and soon.

Special needs camp blesses searchers for missing teen

Fathers of two missing people join forces in Meron search

One's son disappeared years ago, the other's months ago. Today, both met in Meron to search for their children.

Fathers of two missing people join forces in Meron search

110 days later, missing teen nowhere to be found

Avraham Moshe Klinerman has been missing for 110 days. Police Commissioner: 'We will not let this case go.'

110 days later, missing teen nowhere to be found

Meron: We fulfilled 'avoid evil' but failed at 'do good'

Director of 2022 Meron Lag B'Omer celebration testifies about first such celebration since 2021 disaster in which 45 were killed.

Meron: We fulfilled 'avoid evil' but failed at 'do good'

Netanyahu summoned to testify before Meron commission of inquiry

Former PM to testify before commission of inquiry into Israel's worst civilian disaster on July 20.

Netanyahu summoned to testify before Meron commission of inquiry

Hundreds of extremists destroy safety infrastructure at Meron

Police rescue women and children from Rashbi Tomb after extremists break into site, destroy partitions and fences and endanger lives.

Hundreds of extremists destroy safety infrastructure at Meron

Watch: Thousands at Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron

Celebrations held under shadow of last year's tragedy in which 45 people were killed.

Watch: Thousands at Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron

United Hatzalah gearing up for Meron pilgrimage

United Hatzalah completes preparations for providing medical security to the pilgrims of Meron.

United Hatzalah gearing up for Meron pilgrimage

Chief Rabbi: Obey instructions at Meron

Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau says following last year's deadly disaster, visitors to Meron should obey all security instructions.

Chief Rabbi: Obey instructions at Meron

'Tickets for Lag Ba'omer event are nearly sold out'

'Not everyone who wants to will be able to come,' Lag Ba'omer project manager Zvika Tesler says.

'Tickets for Lag Ba'omer event are nearly sold out'

Police official on Lag Ba'omer: 'We're stretched to the limit'

'We'll know about every bus that leaves & comes, we'll prevent those who shouldn't be there from reaching Mt. Meron,' police official says.

Police official on Lag Ba'omer: 'We're stretched to the limit'

In Meron, hope for things to turn out differently this year

Less than two months to Lag Ba'omer: Mount Meron looks completely different; the structures were demolished & the area has been cleared out.

In Meron, hope for things to turn out differently this year

Buildings at gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai demolished

Following court ruling, State demolishes illegal buildings at site of mass casualty stampede.

Buildings at gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai demolished

In Meron, gravesite of Rashbi to close ahead of large event

Gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai closes to visitors ahead of anniversary of Moses' passing. Prayer will be allowed nearby

In Meron, gravesite of Rashbi to close ahead of large event

In the shadow of tragedy:

New plan for Lag Ba'omer in Meron unveiled

Number of visitors limited to 20,000 instead of a half-million, private vehicles will be barred from site.

New plan for Lag Ba'omer in Meron unveiled

Israel Dog Unit joins search for helicopter remains

The Israel Dog Unit set out to Israel's north for a long day of helping Israel's emergency services and preparing for the next incident.

Israel Dog Unit joins search for helicopter remains

Committee: Meron gravesite won't close to visitors

Eli Friend, who runs gravesite of Rashbi in Meron, informs Religious Affairs Ministry of decision to suspend site's closure.

Committee: Meron gravesite won't close to visitors

Gravesite of Rashbi in Meron to close to visitors?

In Meron, Rashbi's gravesite is uninsured & may close. 'Absurd situation, caused by disaster on day the State ran the site,' manager says.

Gravesite of Rashbi in Meron to close to visitors?

Meron disaster commission submits interim recommendations

PM, Religious Affairs Affairs, and Public Security Ministers vow to make changes after 45 killed in Meron on Lag B'Omer.

Meron disaster commission submits interim recommendations

Thousands of visitors arrive each day - and are uninsured

Insurance companies refuse to offer coverage to gravesite of 'Rashbi' in Meron, leaving thousands without coverage in case of injury.

Thousands of visitors arrive each day - and are uninsured

Meron disaster: 'Leave just one bonfire lighting on Mt. Meron'

Committee for investigation of Meron disaster meets for third day of testimony hearings.

Meron disaster: 'Leave just one bonfire lighting on Mt. Meron'

Meron disaster inquiry gets underway

State Commission of Inquiry to begin hearing evidence, calling witnesses in Israel's worst ever civilian disaster.

Meron disaster inquiry gets underway

Cabinet approves commission of inquiry into Meron disaster

Cabinet approves proposal put forward by Gantz and Liberman to launch a formal commission of inquiry into the Mount Meron disaster.

Cabinet approves commission of inquiry into Meron disaster

Meron: Rashbi's grave to close to visitors

Gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai temporarily closes to visitors following Fire and Rescue Service's refusal to approve event.

Meron: Rashbi's grave to close to visitors

A transfer was made to the families after the Meron tragedy

Over a million dollars have already been donated to families by Kupat Ha'ir

A transfer was made to the families after the Meron tragedy

Pope Francis mourns Meron victims

Pope Francis expresses his “closeness” to the people of Israel in the wake of the deadly Lag b’Omer catastrophe at Mount Meron.

Pope Francis mourns Meron victims

MK Gafni: Why didn't the government act before it was too late?

"There was no way so many people could converge on such a small place without a tragedy occurring."

MK Gafni: Why didn't the government act before it was too late?

Flags lowered to half-mast on day of mourning

Knesset, President's Residence lower flags to half-mast in mourning for 45 who perished at Meron.

Flags lowered to half-mast on day of mourning

Female soldiers attacked while helping Meron victims

Soldiers continue to evacuate wounded despite verbal, physical abuse at site where 45 died on Mt. Meron.

Female soldiers attacked while helping Meron victims

Haredi journalist warned of danger - and is beating his chest

Aryeh Ehrlich tweeted in 2018 about the dangerous bottleneck in Meron - and now blames himself for not doing more to prevent tragedy.

Haredi journalist warned of danger - and is beating his chest

Meron: Condolences from around the world

The world's embassies send their thoughts and prayers to the people injured in Meron.

Meron: Condolences from around the world

Meron tragedy aftermath: Coping with trauma

When, G-d forbid,disaster strikes, in addition to prayer, mourning and shock, there are coping strategies. Op-ed.

Meron tragedy aftermath: Coping with trauma

44 people killed in huge crowd crush in Meron

At least 44 killed, dozens more injured in mass crowd crush during Lag Ba'Omer celebrations in Meron.

44 people killed in huge crowd crush in Meron

Police spokesperson: Incident is under investigation

Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai arrives at Meron following mass stampede, police launch investigation.

Police spokesperson: Incident is under investigation