Nearly 200,000 Visit Meron on Lag Baomer

The Ministry of Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition announced that almost 200,000 people visited the kever of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai on Lag Baomer, while keeping safety guidelines instituted by the organizers and authorities.

Transportation was coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation, including buses from across the country and additional train service.

Throughout the day, over 140,000 entered to pray at the kever. Unlike previous years, access to the inner prayer area was open, thanks to a new outline by Minister of Yerushalayim and Heritage Rabbi Meir Porush.

Prayer tents, scattered across Mt.
Meron and in the expanded celebration areas, were filled with thousands of mispallelim.

In addition to the bonfires, thousands of young boys came with their families for their upsherin (first haircut), enjoying specially prepared areas stocked with drinks and sweets.

A touching moment was witnessed on Friday afternoon, when Porush bursted into tears during his closing remarks at a meeting with police near the conclusion of the event.

“We are excited to conclude, with the help of G-d, the Rashbi celebration of 5785, which took place happily and safely, with the participation of tens of thousands of Jewa, while implementing an optimal plan that combined the preservation of Jewish tradition with a commitment to maintaining public peace. I thank all the parties involved, from my office, the production, and the other relevant authorities, and especially the public participating in the celebration who cooperated with the plan and enabled its success.”

Project Director Yossi Deitch added:

“With the help of G-d, we have proven once again that when all the relevant parties together with the public want the plan to succeed, then it is certainly possible. Despite the challenge of erev Shabbos, we were able to make it possible for the Hilula to be held in the best of tradition and allow tens of thousands of our people to daven and rejoice in the simcha of Rashbi.”