Lag B'Omer

From Lebanon to Gaza:

Haredi soldiers celebrate Lag B'Omer

Netzach Yehuda haredi soldiers celebrate Lag B'Omer in honor of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai near the Gaza border, 'warriors with a great soul.'

For Lag Ba'Omer:

Self-Sacrifice in our generation

Not only Rashbi, but all those who follow in his path throughout the generations, especially in our generation, the generation of revival and the ingathering of exiles - whether they are aware of it or not - are sustained by the merit of his and their self-sacrifice.

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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.

Lag Ba'omer: When the soul is bound to G-d

It is taught that on the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon taught secrets of the Torah that had never been heard before.

The unique light of Lag Ba'Omer

This ability, to see the good even in something that appears faulty, is what God demanded of Moses before he could redeem Israel, and likewise of Isaiah. When Rachel saw this trait in Akiva, she chose to marry him.

Debris from Houthi missile falls in Alon Shvut

Arrow 3 system intercepts missile launched from Yemen in attack on the night of Lag Ba'Omer.

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.

For Lag Ba'Omer

Reminiscences and reflections on Lag Ba’Omer and its lessons

The pernicious disease of disrespect continues to infect our times. Disdain of others can also lead to demonization and baseless hatred of the sort that led to the destruction of the Second Temple. Let us overcome it.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Lag Ba’Omer with the “Jewish Amazons” at the Pyramids

For Rabbi Louis Rabinowitz, it would be the most remarkable Lag Ba'Omer he would ever experience, that is Lag Ba'Omer 1942.

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.

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.

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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.

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Lag Ba'Omer celebrations at Shimon Hatzaddik's gravesite

Crowds arrive to celebrate Lag Ba'Omer at the gravesite of Shimon Hatzaddik, a righteous man, in Jerusalem. The site is one of the alternate locations replacing Meron this year, due to the tensions in northern Israel.

Watch: Central Lag Ba'omer bonfire-lighting in Hebron

Due to the security tensions in northern Israel, it was decided that Religious Zionism's central Lag Ba'omer celebrations will be held this year at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Watch.

Watch: Riots in Meron

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

Watch: Hundreds celebrate Lag Ba'omer at the Western Wall

Hundreds are currently participating in the traditional Lag B'Omer bonfire at the Western Wall Plaza, in the presence of the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, in honor of the holy Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

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.

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.'

Religious Services Ministry to fund alternate Lag Ba'Omer fires

In the coming days, a national tender is expected to be issued, within which religious councils across the country will have the opportunity to submit requests for funding Lag BaOmer events.

Meron Disaster:

Justice has come to light, better late than never

'This disaster occurred because of the 'careless' and 'trust me' attitude that exists in Israel,' says brother of Meron disaster victim.

'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.

Op-Ed:

The incredible wonder of Lag Ba'Omer in Israel

Lag Ba’Omer bonfires show us that the inner light of the Torah can never be extinguished in the depths of our Nation’s soul. Op-ed.

Appeal for public assistance locating missing persons in Meron

Three people have gone missing in the Meron area, and never been found. The public celebrating Lag B'Omer there is asked to help find them.

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.

Hundreds flock to Africa's oldest synagogue for Lag Ba'omer

Annual pilgrimage to Ghriba synagogue in Djerba resumes after two-year hiatus due to COVID.

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Over 20 thousand at Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Beit Shemesh

Huge crowd led by R' Meilech Biderman dwarfs this year's gathering in Meron.

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Firefighters put out improvised bonfire in Meron

Firefighters called to extinguish bonfire that was illegally lit at Lag Ba'omer celebrations in 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.

Lag BaOmer in Meron:

'They kept us there for hours without bathroom facilities'

Travelers to Meron recount horrendous journey with multiple forced "rest stops" in empty fields.

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Lighting candles in memory of Meron victims

45 candles lit on Mount Meron in memory of victims of last year's tragedy during Lag Ba'omer celebrations.

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.

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Rebbe of Boyan opens Lag Ba'omer celebrations

The Rebbe of Boyan lights Meron bonfire as Lag Ba'omer celebration kicks off.

Lag Ba'Omer and Tikun Olam

What is the best way to make the world a better place. Revolution or Evolution? What was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's misconception?

Lag B'Omer

Bennett: Follow the rules and stay safe at Meron

Prime Minister Bennett offers holiday greeting ahead of Lag B'Omer, urges visitors to Meron to follow the rules after last year's disaster.

'The People shall rise up like Lions'-Lag Ba'Omer and Rav Kook

The incredible wonder of Lag Ba’Omer in Israel, where the revival of the Jewish Nation in Israel is a wonder that is impossible to explain.

Extremists arrested for seeking to sabotage Meron celebration

Members of extremist haredi sect arrested with tools meant to sabotage communications infrastructure at large Lag B'Omer celebration.

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.

'Maintain just one bonfire on Mount Meron'

'Every year the gathering grows, the mountain has become too small to hold that number of people,' police superintendent says in testimony.

Rabbi: 'Lag Ba'omer bonfires at Meron are idolatry'

Rabbi Eliyahu Abergel, leading Jerusalem rabbi, says Lag Ba'omer bonfires 'have no benefit, the sages of the world opposed it.'

This is how Jewish day schools balanced Lag Ba'omer with tragedy

At Jewish day schools, principals struggle with how to celebrate Lag b’Omer and commemorate the tragedy at Meron.

Watch: Lag Ba'Omer in Djerba

Jewish community in Tunisia celebrates Lag Ba'Omer with a special prayer in the Djerba synagogue.

Lag Ba'Omer & the hidden Torah of the Hebrew mission

How does the Jewish people's national story help human history attain its goal?

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.

'We all pray for the healing of the victims'

Israeli leaders respond to the tragedy during Lag Ba’Omer celebrations in Meron, in which 50 people were injured.

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Hundreds of thousands at Meron for Lag Ba'omer

Clashes between visitors to Meron and security forces ahead of mass Lag Ba'omer celebrations; two are arrested.

Arabs and Jews celebrate Lag Ba'Omer, Ramadan together in Dubai

Arabs from the United Arab Emirates and Israeli Jews celebrated Ramadan and Lag Ba'Omer together at a special ceremony in Dubai

Watch historic event: Gulf ambassadors join Jewish communities

Ambassadors from three countries hold first joint Lag Ba'omer/ Iftar celebration with Jewish communities in the Gulf.

Man in critical condition after collapsing at Meron

Man in his 60s collapses at Rashbi's grave in Meron ahead of Lag B'Omer.

Chief rabbi urges: Come to Meron early, leave for home early

Rabbi David Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, calls on public to leave Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's gravesite early on Friday.

Rabbi Edelstein: 'We do not travel to Meron'

Leading Lithuanian-haredi rabbi calls on followers not to travel to Meron on Lag Ba'omer. 'We do not travel; we sit and learn.'

Rabbi Akiva and Lag Ba'Omer

Who were the students of Rabbi Akiva that we should mourn their deaths so many centuries later?

Rabbis: 'Traveling to Meron? Not on Friday'

Rabbinic council calls on Lag Ba'omer pilgrims to arrive in Meron Thursday evening, leave early Friday morning, to avoid Shabbat descration.

R. Yehuda Bar Elai's celebrations return after more than a year

Staff at the holy site commemorating R. Yehuda Bar Elai are preparing to broadcast his memorial celebration to Jews around the world.