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Mount Meron

Rabbi Yosef Shoveli speaks in a sermon, uploaded on October 16, 2018. (YouTube screenshot/Arutz Hatorah)
May 7, 2026, 11:40 am
Meron rabbi arrested after cult watchdog warned of sex abuse in strictly run group
Accusers say Rabbi Yosef Shoveli, 54, passed off sexual abuse as ‘spiritual’ acts; in group he leads, personal decisions are tightly controlled and members do chores without pay
By Michael Horovitz and ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox men attend Lag B'Omer celebrations on Mount Meron, northern Israel, on May 4, 2026. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 5, 2026, 2:30 am
Haredi masses breach Meron, flouting wartime Lag B’Omer restrictions
Police deny reports that thousands reached Galilee shrine illegally, even as revelers recount bypassing restrictions with ease; Ben Gvir lauds cops for working ‘very gently’
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
Jewish worshipers seen at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, northern Israel, after Lag B'Omer celebrations were canceled, May 3, 2026. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 4, 2026, 5:39 am
Police brace for unrest at Meron pilgrimage site after drastic cutbacks to Lag B’Omer revelry
Amid war-related security concerns, cops block roads, but don’t vacate thousands already at northern shrine; unknown group tells Haredim to arm themselves with pepper spray, tasers; alternate bonfire lightings planned in Jerusalem
By Charlie Summers
Police officers guard a checkpoint near Meron, northern Israel, after the Lag B'Omer celebrations were canceled and the area was declared a closed military zone, May 3, 2026. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 3, 2026, 4:03 pm
Police block roads around Meron ahead of Lag B’Omer as pilgrimage canceled
Amid confusion over wartime restrictions on annual event, access to holy site blocked entirely, with police warning of ‘zero tolerance’ for violent resistance to guidelines
By ToI Staff
The crowd during Lag B'Omer celebrations on Mount Meron, May 15, 2025. (David Cohen/Flash90)
April 27, 2026, 5:54 am
Israel restores some restrictions in north amid Hezbollah fire, nixes major pilgrimage
After 9 days without restrictions nationwide, Home Front Command caps gatherings in Lebanon border towns at 1,500; PM orders Lag B’Omer festivities at Meron held in ‘symbolic’ fashion
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Grand Rabbi and his followers light a bonfire during Lag Baomer celebrations, in Meron, on May 15, 2025. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 16, 2025, 2:36 pm
Tens of thousands celebrate Lag B’Omer at Meron, year after site closed amid rocket fire
Revelers defy firefighters trying to extinguish unlawful bonfires as festivities bounce back after wartime closure; sex offender rabbi lights bonfire; some passageways overcrowded
By Charlie Summers
Haredi Jews celebrate Lag B'Omer at Mount Meron on May 8, 2023. (David Cohen/ Flash90)
May 15, 2025, 1:51 pm
Major transit shakeups, closures enforced ahead of Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Mount Meron
Police said set to allow 63,000 celebrants at a time for Thursday’s event at the site, where 45 died in 2021 crowd crush
By Charlie Summers
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi addresses the Knesset plenum, March 31, 2025. (Dani Shem-Tov / Office of the Knesset Spokesperson)
April 1, 2025, 10:14 am
In blitz, Knesset passes laws to rebuild the south, revoke benefits for terrorists
Lawmakers end winter parliamentary session with flurry of votes ahead of month-long recess, including forming an anti-poverty authority, banning teachers with Palestinian degrees
By Sam Sokol
Rockets fired by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon are intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on August 23, 2024. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)
August 23, 2024, 5:15 pm
At least 7 Hezbollah operatives killed in IDF strikes as terror group bombards north
No injuries after more than 100 projectiles launched from Lebanon throughout day; military says among those it targeted were two members of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile unit
By Emanuel Fabian
Teenagers hang out outside a computer store in Jish on August 5, 2024. (Canaan Lidor/Times of Israel)
August 7, 2024, 10:53 am
In Jish, an indigenous Christian minority defiantly stays in Hezbollah’s crosshairs
Instead of fleeing the Galilee, hundreds of Zionist Arameans are digging in as they brace for a major escalation
By Canaan Lidor
Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on July 23, 2024. (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)
July 24, 2024, 10:19 am
Soldier seriously injured in Hezbollah rocket attack on northern border
Military says barrages and explosive-laden drones fired at Mount Dov, Kiryat Shmona, Galilee Panhandle; drones launched from Iraq intercepted by fighter jets
By Emanuel Fabian
United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush arrives for coalition talks at the Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv on November 10, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 27, 2024, 11:56 pm
Minister arranged for family to join him in Meron despite strict closure
UTJ’s Meir Porush says his wife, adult children were at the pilgrimage site to help him as he oversaw its closure to the general public in advance of Lag B’Omer holiday
By ToI Staff
Police push back ultra-Orthodox men who tried to enter the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer, at Mount Meron, May 26, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 27, 2024, 2:22 am
Police clash with ultra-Orthodox pilgrims at closed-off holy site in Mount Meron
Video shared by police shows worshipers throwing chairs and crates at cops; Border Police officer removed from duty after being filmed throwing elderly man to the ground
By ToI Staff
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef speaks as ultra-Orthodox Jewish men celebrate the holiday of Lag B'Omer in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem on May 25, 2024. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
May 26, 2024, 7:00 am
Barred from Meron, Jewish worshipers mark Lag B’Omer at flashpoint East Jerusalem site
Thousands crowd into venue outside Shimon HaTzadik tomb as police lock down tense Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood; Sephardi chief rabbi lights fire, speaks before enthused audience
By Charlie Summers
Smoke rises after rockets fired from Lebanon hit an open area in Mount Meron, northern Israel, May 15, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 22, 2024, 1:38 pm
Authorities close Mount Meron ahead of Lag B’Omer over Hezbollah rocket threat
City of Tiberias also blocks access to Rabbi Akiva gravesite fearing too many pilgrims will throng shrine over holiday
By Canaan Lidor, Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
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