Mount Meron tragedy

Celebrating Lag Ba’omer, a heroic chapter in Jewish history - opinion

During Bar Kochba’s revolt against the Romans, a terrible epidemic struck Rabbi Akiva’s students, and 24,000 men lost their lives. The epidemic suddenly stopped on Lag Ba’omer.

 The real festivities begin when a huge bonfire is lit at midnight on Lag Ba'omer.
 Rabbi Elimelech Biderman with his followers celebrate the jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, in Meron. May 9, 2023

C'mtee decides to limit bonfires at Mt. Meron ahead of annual pilgrimage

 Israeli soldiers guard the bodies of victims of an attack following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023.

The True conception: We continue to be endangered by our own assumptions

 Ultra-Orthodox Jews look at stairs with waste on it in Mount Meron, northern Israel, following the Mount Meron tragedy. April 30, 2021.

Mount Meron disaster is a tragedy, but also a cautionary tale - editorial


First two foreign lawsuits over Meron disaster demand 3.5 million shekels each

The New Jersey families of Elazar Yitzahk Koltai, 13, and Donny Morris, 19, are seeking NIS 3.5 million each in damages from the authorities that had overseen the holy site at the time of Lag BaOmer

The memorial for the victims of the Mount Meron tragedy was found destroyed on the ground, July 14, 2021

Almost 2 years after tragedy, Meron celebrations regulated under new law

In line with recommendations of the Meron Committee, one central bonfire will be light at the tomb, with additional bonfires for religious study.

 FUNERAL FOR brothers Yosef David Elhadar and Moshe Mordechai Elhadar (opposite, far right), killed in the Meron tragedy; flames of remembrance for 45 victims; both May 2, 2021.

Meron disaster victims demand MK Porush be reinstated as Meron celebration supervisor

Haredi MK Meir Porush resigned from his role as supervisor of the Lag B’Omer Meron celebrations earlier on Tuesday.

Meir Porush, Minister of Jerusalem and Israel's Traditions, March 27, 2019.

Netanyahu, prepare now to ensure Israeli Lag Ba'omer safety - Meron panel

While Lag Ba'omer is five months away, the committee members wrote that they felt the matter was urgent and brought it to Netanyahu's attention.

Jewish worshippers sing and dance as they stand on tribunes at the Lag Ba’omer event on Mount Meron on April 29.

Ex-Israel Police official: Guardian of the Walls was just the beginning

Retired police official Uri Bar-Lev warned that the police "will not be able to meet their goals; the next incident will be much more serious."

Lt.-Col. Dori Saar during Operation Guardian of the Walls.

Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai is a disgrace - editorial

Israel deserves a better police force and the police deserve a better chief. It will be impossible to truly rehabilitate the police while Kobi Shabtai remains in the top position.

 Chief of police Kobi Shabtai, Minister of Public Security Omer Bar Lev and Israeli police officers at the Israel Police Independence Day ceremony at the National Headquarters of the Israel Police in Jerusalem May 1, 2022.

Police requests for reinforcements before Meron Disaster went unanswered - report

"We need reinforcements...Where are all the officers who are lounging around? They need to come here!" pleaded officers over radio.

Israeli rescue forces and police near the scene of a stampede that killed dozens and wounded dozens over 100 during the celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021

Haredi MK demands full control over Meron disaster probe from Netanyahu

Sources involved in the negotiations say that a final decision on Porush's demands has not been made yet and that it "remains in discussion."

Meir Porush, Minister of Jerusalem and Israel's Traditions, March 27, 2019.

Meron disaster panel sets hearing date for Netanyahu, warned officials

The inquiry has questioned top political officials, all of whom had been holding their breath about whether the inquiry would place the blame on them during an election season.

The bodies of the victims of the tragedy at Mount Meron on Lag Ba'omer.

Can next Israeli gov't cancel, ignore three major state inquiries? - analysis

Amid the focus on the corruption trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, most have forgotten the three state inquiries: The Submarine Affair, Mount Meron tragedy and Gilboa Prison breakout.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu climbs out after a visit inside the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the fleet, after it arrived in Haifa's port