Meron

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

One year later:

Missing teen's mother visits search area

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

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.

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.

Three mysterious disappearances, one major search effort

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

Holocaust survivor who helped found Meron dies

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

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

Watch: Thousands at Lag Ba'omer celebrations in Meron

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

United Hatzalah gearing up for Meron pilgrimage

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

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.

'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.

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.

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.

Buildings at gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai demolished

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.