Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 616

Mount Meron

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
Smoke rises after rockets fired from Lebanon hit an open area in Mount Meron, northern Israel, May 15, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
May 16, 2024, 1:18 am
Hezbollah drone hits Lower Galilee in terror group’s deepest strike of war
IDF says no injuries caused in attack, which Lebanese group claims targeted sensitive air force base some 35 kilometers from frontier
By Emanuel Fabian
Elad Fingerhut, who was killed by Hezbollah missile fire in Adamit on May 14, 2024. (Courtesy of the family)
May 15, 2024, 5:54 pm
Elad Fingerhut, 38, named as man killed by Hezbollah missile as rocket salvos intensify
Fingerhut, a father of 3, was killed while trying to assist soldiers injured in attack by Lebanese terror group; 60 rockets target Mount Meron area
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
A fire is seen at a winery in the northern community of Avivim following a Hezbollah missile attack, March 26, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
March 26, 2024, 1:53 pm
IDF strikes Hezbollah deep in Lebanon after missile fire on base, border community
Heavy damage caused to winery in Avivim; IDF says ‘no harm to capabilities’ in strike on Mount Meron air traffic control base; Israeli response marks northernmost strike amid war
By Emanuel Fabian
Rockets launched from Lebanon strike the Mount Meron area, March 10, 2024. (Screenshot/X; Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
March 10, 2024, 1:02 pm
Hezbollah bombards north with rockets after deadly IDF strike in Lebanon
No injuries as terror group launches dozens of rockets at Meron, Mount Dov and Mount Hermon; 5 reported killed in Israeli strike in Khirbet Selm, including 3 Hezbollah operatives
By Emanuel Fabian
Illustrative: Likud leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to testify before the Meron Disaster Inquiry Committee, in Jerusalem, on July 21, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 7, 2024, 12:51 pm
How the damning findings of the Meron disaster inquiry are good for Netanyahu
In normal circumstances, a prime minister blamed for the deaths of 45 people would have packed up and gone — but not this one
By Yuval Yoaz
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.