Meron

Communications Minister:

'You will have blood on your hands'

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi lashed out at the judicial system for ordering a halt to broadcasts by a haredi radio station in northern Israel.

Family rescued after Lag Ba'omer hike goes wrong

Rescue volunteers evacuate grandmother and five grandchildren, en route to Meron, from Nahal Amud escarpment.

Hostage's mother: 'I've come to give thanks'

Ditza, mother of released hostage Avinatan Or, visited Meron and expressed thanks for the personal and national miracles, 'Our strength is a higher power; one that nothing can withstand.'

Hundreds attempt to enter Meron without authorization

Worshippers who attempted to reach the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai were caught after a long walk along roads and through forests. They were put on buses and taken away from the area.

In photos:

Lag Ba'Omer night in Meron

Lag Ba'Omer events began in Meron with bonfires lit by leading rabbis. Attendence was limited due to security concerns.

Watch:

Lag Ba'Omer celebrations begin in Meron

Annual Lag Ba'Omer celebrations featuring bonfires begin at the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. This year, due to the security situation, attendance at the event is limited.

Rabbi warns: 'Do not go to Meron, it risks your lives'

Rabbi Yigal Cohen warns public to refrain from visiting Meron during the Lag Ba'omer holiday due to tangible security threats. 'Our enemies are waiting for a crowd to gather there.'

Haredi MK announces: I won't travel to Meron this year

Haredi MK Meir Porush says he won't attend Meron Lag Ba'omer event this year, reveals details behind decision to cancel it.

Rabbi David Yosef's severe warning to Meron visitors

Chief rabbi Rabbi David Yosef criticized those planning to ascend Mount Meron on Lag BaOmer in defiance of instructions as 'having no connection to our Torah.'

Roads to be closed

Police announce cancellation of Lag B'Omer celebration

The police announced preparations to cancel the Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai celebration in Meron, following Home Front Command instructions and the Prime Minister's decision.

Jerusalem Ministry: No Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron

Jerusalem Affairs Ministry Director-General pens sharp letter to Transportation Ministry counterpart, warning Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron cannot take place without proper busing.

The new plan for Lag Ba'omer on Mount Meron

Following Home Front Command's updated guidelines, Israel moves to create new plan for central Lag Ba'omer celebrations on Mount Meron.

Rabbi Eliyahu alleges discrimination in holy site pilgrimage

The chief rabbi of Tzfat sent a sharp letter to Minister Miri Regev alleging discrimination in the allocation of buses to the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Meron on Lag Ba'omer: Up to 1,500 people in each area

New plan limits Meron Lag Ba'omer gatherings to capped groups with timed entry, aiming to preserve tradition while ensuring safety under current security restrictions.

Appeal to bar sex offender Rabbi from Lag B'Omer ceremony

The Movement for Quality Government has demanded that Rabbi Eliezer Berland and the Shuvu Banim community be barred from participating in the Lag BaOmer bonfire lightings in Meron.

Mass-casualty concerns

Netanyahu cancels Lag Ba’Omer Meron celebrations

The decision follows security assessments and updated Home Front Command restrictions limiting gatherings in the Meron area and nearby communities close to the Lebanese border.

Lag B'Omer celebrations in Meron due to be cancelled

Government ministries have been instructed to pause preparations for the mass Lag B'Omer celebrations at Meron due to fears of renewed fighting. Ticket sales have been halted.

The Meron pilgrimage crisis has been resolved

The crisis surrounding the Meron pilgrimage has been resolved after the state committed to covering any payment or fine imposed on the Committee of Five in connection with the upcoming Lag BaOmer event.

Meron pilgrimage at risk?

The Israel Police announced that, at this stage, no approval will be given for holding the annual pilgrimage on Lag BaOmer due to serious delays in safety work at the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

New 'Meron Law' aims to save lives of Meron pilgrims

The law aims to regulate the mass Lag BaOmer celebrations in Meron, while imposing restrictions and safety guidelines to protect the tens of thousands of worshippers who visit the site each year.

Officers will not face charges for assaulting haredim in Meron

A year and a half after hharedim were recorded being violently assaulted in Meron, the police officers will not face prosecution for procedural reasons.

Two missing persons located in one day

Both victims were found alive and well after extensive searches with hundreds of volunteers over several days.

Watch live:

Thousands celebrate Lag Ba'Omer in Meron

Lag B'Omer festivities kick off with the bonfire lighting by the Boyaner Rebbe at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, northern Israel.

Meron prepares for Lag B’Omer with enhanced safety measures

Lag B'Omer celebrations in Meron begin Thursday evening with major safety reforms in place, key lessons learned from 2021 tragedy.

Days Before Lag B'Omer:

Missing person cases spike in Meron region

As throngs of pilgrims ascend to Meron for Lag B'Omer, the Israel Dog Unit has been rushing to locate missing persons in the woods around the city.

Ahead of Lag B'Omer

MDA issues safety guide for pilgrimage at Meron

Following the 2021 Meron Disaster, MDA urges the public to adhere to safety precautions.

Ahead of Lag Ba'omer:

Jerusalem teen indicted for sabotaging safety infrastructure

19-year-old accused of extensive vandalism to security and emergency systems meant to protect Lag Ba'omer pilgrims arrested after hiding in Tzfat warehouse.

Lag B'Omer:

Visitors to be allowed only five hours in Meron

The Ministry of Transport clarified today that in order to ensure the safety of the thousands of worshippers in Meron, visitors will be allowed to stay in the Meron compound on Lag BaOmer for up to 5 hours.

Committee appoints Meir Porush to head Meron Lag Ba'omer prep

Following declaration of Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, committee elects Jerusalem Minister Meir Porush to lead preparations for the Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron.

Hezbollah publishes footage of strike to Meron base

Hezbollah publishes footage of strike on IDF base in Meron, using an Iranian Almas missile.

How will the IDF strike back?

Hezbollah missile hits IAF air traffic control base in Meron

Hezbollah published footage showing the strike. The IDF has yet to retaliate for the strike on the sensitive and strategic location.

Rabbi injured in Meron:

'The policeman pushed me forcefully and I fell on my face'

"My entire face hurt and they gave me stitches in the hospital," Rabbi Avraham Kroizer recounted. When asked if he would forgive the policeman, he responded: "If he repents, then by all means."

Difficult to watch:

Police violence in Meron: Elderly man thrown on the floor

Footage released Sunday evening shows police officers pushing elderly individual, throwing him to the ground.

Police force hundreds out of Meron

Police have stopped buses full of passengers trying to reach Meron and forced dozens of worshipers out of Meron after they began destroying police barricades.

Religious Zionist Rabbis light dawn bonfire at Meron

The fire was lit by the Rabbi of the 51st battalion at a ceremony including some of the most notable figures in the Religious Zionist community.

Watch:

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu's Lag Ba'Omer message

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu with a message from Lag Ba'Omer celebrations in Meron: The nation of Israel needs to bring the light and justice to the entire world.

Watch: Riots in Meron

Hundreds arrive in Meron, clashing with police and violating the 'closed military zone' order issued for the site.

Police announce:

Meron closed until after Lag Baomer

Police warned that unlawfully entering the area constitutes a criminal offense and those doing so will be forcefully removed by officers.

Ahead of Lag Ba'Omer:

Mount Meron declared a closed military area

The order went into effect at 11:00 p.m., and it will be in effect until Monday of next week at 12:00 p.m.

Lag Ba'omer in Meron: Three bonfires with 10 people each

If police and security forces approve the new plan for Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron, a total of thirty people will be allowed at the site, and no crowds.

Knesset to pass law limiting Meron celebrations

Minister Meir Porush: 'We cannot and should not deny the centuries-old tradition of Lag Ba'omer, even in a restricted format.'

IDF cancels Lag Ba'Omer events in Meron

IDF stresses that the security situation does not allow the annual Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai to be held, and as such it was decided to cancel it this year.

IDF recommends: Cancel Lag Ba'omer events in Meron

Due to security concerns in northern Israel, IDF recommends canceling annual Lag Ba'omer celebration in Meron.

An evening of rockets and reprisals

Hezbollah fired several rockets at northern Israel following the assassination of two senior figures in the organization. The IDF retaliated by attacking the origins of the rockets.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

Pictures:

Religious Zionist torchlighting ceremony in Meron

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

Live: Thousands at Lag Ba'Omer celebration in Meron

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

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.

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.