Mount Meron disaster

An Israel Dog Unit volunteer searching Mount Meron for missing persons. (Courtesy IDU)

ToI investigates

Thousands go to Meron to find themselves spiritually. Three have never come back

The cradle of Jewish mysticism is also where Moishy Klinerman, Moshe Ilowitz and Haviv Ben-Abu were last seen. As Lag B’Omer’s throngs leave, searchers remain to scour the mountain

‘Extremists’ tear down barriers, clash with cops as Meron pilgrimage ends in chaos

By TOI staff and Judah Ari Gross

May 19, 2022, 10:52 pm

Thousands go to Meron to find themselves spiritually. Three have never come back

The cradle of Jewish mysticism is also where Moishy Klinerman, Moshe Ilowitz and Haviv Ben-Abu were last seen. As Lag B’Omer’s throngs leave, searchers remain to scour the mountain

By Marissa Newman

Ultra-Orthodox Jews scuffle with the police as they try to enter the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron, during the Lag B'Omer holiday that commemorates the 2nd-century Jewish scholar's death, May 19, 2022. (Menahem KAHANA / AFP)

May 19, 2022, 4:48 pm

‘Extremists’ tear down barriers, clash with cops as Meron pilgrimage ends in chaos

Families arriving for memorial attacked, spit on; violence followed relatively peaceful start to Lag B’Omer event, heavily secured after 45 died in crush last year

By TOI staff and Judah Ari Gross

The head of the Boyan Hasidic sect lights a bonfire during Lag B'Omer celebrations on Mount Meron in northern Israel on May 18, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

May 19, 2022, 12:21 pm

Mount Meron festivities pass peacefully, but pilgrims gripe at new safety measures

Police, organizers imposed strict limits on numbers of visitors to the Bar Yochai tomb complex for Lag B’Omer holiday after 45 people were trampled to death at last year’s event

By Judah Ari Gross

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend Lag B'Omer celebrations in Meron on May 18, 2022. (Judah Ari Gross/Times of Israel)

May 18, 2022, 9:24 pm

Pilgrims return to Meron for downsized event, a year after crush that killed 45

Worshipers hold memorial service for victims as annual Lag B’Omer events begin, alongside heavy police presence and new rules in place to avoid repeat of 2021 disaster

By Michael Horovitz and Judah Ari Gross

Police evacuate Jewish worshipers ahead of the Lag B'omer festival, at the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, in Meron, northern Israel on May 17, 2022 (Courtesy David Cohen/Flash90)

May 18, 2022, 2:16 pm

Daily Briefing May 18: Tense preparations at Mt. Meron; WZO says sorry

Religion reporter Judah Ari Gross reviews plans for Lag B’Omer event and an apology to Women of the Wall, as political writer Tal Schneider discusses a Knesset scholarship bill

By TOI staff

Tools that police believe suspects intended to use to sabotage the celebrations planned for the Lag B'Omer holiday on Mount Meron in northern Israel, which were seized on May 17, 2022. (Israel Police)

May 17, 2022, 9:46 pm

Police arrest group suspected of planning to sabotage Lag B’Omer events at Mt. Meron

Suspects caught with crowbars, wirecutters allegedly en route to holy site due to apparent opposition to new safety measures following last year’s deadly disaster

By Judah Ari Gross

Police officers guard the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, on Mount Meron in northern Israel on May 15, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

May 17, 2022, 5:19 pm

Entry limits, structural fixes as Israel aims to avoid repeat of 2021 Meron disaster

With drastic changes to the rules and a clearer delegation of responsibility, organizers prepare for an influx of revelers after 45 people were crushed to death last Lag B’Omer

By Judah Ari Gross

Police officers guard ahead of the Lag B'omer festival, at the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, in Meron, northern Israel on May 15, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

May 17, 2022, 11:57 am

Scalpers offer fake Meron festival tickets, subverting new safety measures – report

Ticket sellers say they can provide passes for Lag B’Omer event even if site is full; claim to also have tickets circumventing time limits imposed in wake of 2021’s deadly crush

By TOI staff

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrate during a Lag B'Omer gathering on Mount Meron in northern Israel on April 29, 2021 (David Cohen/Flash90)

May 11, 2022, 11:11 am

Mount Meron celebrations to go ahead as MKs approve safety regulations

Entry requires an admission ticket and is limited to 4 hours, and there will be only 1 central bonfire at the pilgrimage site, after last year’s Lag B’Omer event ended in 45 deaths

By TOI staff

Mourners attend the funeral of Abraham Ambon, one of the victims of the Meron tragedy, where 45 people were crushed to death during a Lag b'Omer event, in Jerusalem, May 3, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 9, 2022, 2:39 pm

Knesset approves NIS 500,000 compensation for each Meron disaster victim

Every family to be indemnified for each deceased member; bereaved families’ forum thanks ministers for acting in ‘rare cooperation’ between coalition and opposition

By TOI staff

File: Ultra-Orthodox men take part in celebrations of Lag B'Omer on Mt. Meron, at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, May 17, 2014 (Flash90)

April 27, 2022, 5:44 am

Admission tickets among changes for Lag B’Omer at Mt. Meron, a year after disaster

Worshipers at annual festival will be transported from nearby parking lot on shuttles, given limited time at holy site, and only one bonfire will be allowed

By TOI staff

Christian pilgrims hold candles as they gather during the ceremony of the Holy Fire at Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, in the Old City of Jerusalem dead, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

April 23, 2022, 4:09 pm

Thousands attend Jerusalem ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony despite complaints over restrictions

Some clashes seen at holy site as police limit attendance; Israeli officials say they don’t want a repeat of Mt. Meron disaster

By AP and TOI staff

Police chief Kobi Shabtai ahead of his testimony before the Meron disaster commission, in Jerusalem, on April 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 11, 2022, 2:09 pm

Police chief blames deadly Meron crush on engineering failure, denies responsibility

Kobi Shabtai rejects claim he ignored fresh warnings of overcrowding at the site ahead of the disaster, in which 45 people were killed and over 100 injured

By TOI staff

Israeli rescue forces and police at the scene of the fatal crush during Lag B'Omer celebrations on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel, on April 30, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)

March 26, 2022, 6:18 pm

Following Mount Meron disaster, state said looking to take control of holy site

Plan reportedly based on 2014 outline by Yair Lapid, removing control from Haredi groups and ending illegal construction on the hilltop

By TOI staff

Men gather during the funeral ceremony of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky in the city of Bnei Brak, on March 20, 2022 (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

March 20, 2022, 2:08 pm

Bennett warns against Kanievsky funeral turning into a repeat of Meron tragedy

Procession for Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, an influential religious leader with hundreds of thousands of followers, raises fears of crush similar to deadly Lag B’Omer disaster

By TOI staff