Tens of thousands of people are in Meiron celebrating Lag BaOmer - the day of commemoration of Bar Kochba's military revolt against the Romans, and the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai. Buses loaded with visitors arrived on the average of every 20 seconds last night, police said.
The celebrations take place at Mt. Meiron in the Galilee, the gravesite of the famous Kabbalist and dissident in Roman-occupied Israel, Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai. Celebrations began on Friday with the 171-year-old tradition of a parade of Torah scrolls from the home of the Abu Evron family, in the Old City of Tzfat, towards Meiron. Thousands of people spent the Sabbath in Meiron, and many have been there for up to two weeks, reserving the best spots.
The minor holiday of Lag BaOmer - the 33rd day of the Omer period between Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Pentecost) - is marked most notably with traditional bonfires throughout the country. A tradition kept by Jewish children of all backgrounds in Israel, the bonfires represent the light of Torah, and especially that of the Kabbalah, brought to the world by Rabbi Shimon.
The Sages have also set aside the day as one of commemoration of Bar Kochba's military revolt against the Romans. In addition, the Talmud states that Lag Ba'Omer also represents the end of a period of mourning for thousands of students of Rabbi Akiva, who died in a plague at this time of year.
The government has decided to make Lag BaOmer a national day in honor of IDF reserve soldiers. Soldiers serving in reserves on this day receive free rides on Israel Railways, immediate service at Bank HaPoalim branches, 50% discounts on Egged buses, free entrances to museums, and more.
Despite the influx of visitors to Meiron, the site is not in the best of conditions, according to Chaim Ben-Simol, caretaker of the tomb. He told Arutz-7 that electricity to the site was recently cut off for a short while due to the staggering NIS 70 million debt of the Holy Sites Authority. The money due to Israel Electric Company was to have been allocated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs - which, as of Jan. 1, officially does not exist. At present, a generator supplies limited electricity during the day, and a temporary arrangement has been made with the electric company permitting activation of the local grid during the night.
Magen David Adom emergency medical service officials set up a special command center near the Meiron tomb. Staff includes physicians, paramedics and EMTs, as well as mobile first-aid stations and other required personnel and adjuncts. Volunteers of the Jerusalem branch of the Hatzolah first-response organization have also established a command post in Meiron.
The celebrations take place at Mt. Meiron in the Galilee, the gravesite of the famous Kabbalist and dissident in Roman-occupied Israel, Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai. Celebrations began on Friday with the 171-year-old tradition of a parade of Torah scrolls from the home of the Abu Evron family, in the Old City of Tzfat, towards Meiron. Thousands of people spent the Sabbath in Meiron, and many have been there for up to two weeks, reserving the best spots.
The minor holiday of Lag BaOmer - the 33rd day of the Omer period between Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Pentecost) - is marked most notably with traditional bonfires throughout the country. A tradition kept by Jewish children of all backgrounds in Israel, the bonfires represent the light of Torah, and especially that of the Kabbalah, brought to the world by Rabbi Shimon.
The Sages have also set aside the day as one of commemoration of Bar Kochba's military revolt against the Romans. In addition, the Talmud states that Lag Ba'Omer also represents the end of a period of mourning for thousands of students of Rabbi Akiva, who died in a plague at this time of year.
The government has decided to make Lag BaOmer a national day in honor of IDF reserve soldiers. Soldiers serving in reserves on this day receive free rides on Israel Railways, immediate service at Bank HaPoalim branches, 50% discounts on Egged buses, free entrances to museums, and more.
Despite the influx of visitors to Meiron, the site is not in the best of conditions, according to Chaim Ben-Simol, caretaker of the tomb. He told Arutz-7 that electricity to the site was recently cut off for a short while due to the staggering NIS 70 million debt of the Holy Sites Authority. The money due to Israel Electric Company was to have been allocated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs - which, as of Jan. 1, officially does not exist. At present, a generator supplies limited electricity during the day, and a temporary arrangement has been made with the electric company permitting activation of the local grid during the night.
Magen David Adom emergency medical service officials set up a special command center near the Meiron tomb. Staff includes physicians, paramedics and EMTs, as well as mobile first-aid stations and other required personnel and adjuncts. Volunteers of the Jerusalem branch of the Hatzolah first-response organization have also established a command post in Meiron.