Boropark24 Editor live in Meron; Navigating the Logistical and Spiritual Road to Rabi Shimon

By: A Boropark24 Editor live in Meron 

Despite my longstanding tradition of making my way to Rabi Shimon for the Lag Ba’omer Hillula—a tradition interrupted by Covid—I knew this year would be very different from the past. As I sit on the bus from Tzfas to Meron, my precious ticket (valid for only four hours) safely scanned, I’m filled with anticipation and longing. 

I had jumped to purchase my ticket the moment the ticket sale opened, thankfully obtaining the coveted nighttime tickets, the first cohort to be allowed in. We boarded the bus in tzefas at 8:00, destination: Meron. 

At 7:30 we headed to the special parking area for the busses, and, event here, you could already feel the tight control the Israeli government placed on the entire hillula proceedings, with dozens, if not hundreds of police officers stationed in the parking lot.

As soon as a bus arrived the people began trying to get on, but as previously announced, only ticket holders for this designated time were allowed on board, with police officers scanning each and every ticket. Once on the bus, the driver pulled near the exit of the lot, but he now needed to wait for clearance from officers in Meron that he can arrive, and that we would not go over the capacity.

About 30 minutes later, we got the clearance and along with several other buses left the short journey from Tzfas to Meron. 

The joy and the anticipation aboard the bus are indescribable. As we make this holy journey, there are multiple checkpoints along the way—ensuring that our bus was indeed permitted to ascend the mountain—but we don’t notice any of it. There is singing, and some people are logged onto devices, participating in the hadlakah and celebrations that have already begun.   

And there is the trauma... the memories of last year—the joy that had been so tragically cut short— that have never really left our hearts... and we all do our best to overpower them with the holy joy and the fire of the day. 

In a few short moments, we will enter Meron, to the embrace of the holy Tanna Rashbi, whom Klal Yisroel has burdened with all of their pain and their sorrows. We will pour out our hearts, for ourselves and our loved ones, and for all of Klal Yisroel... and we will rejoice with Rabbi Shimon, in his Torah, and in the great lights that he has bequeathed us, which continues to shine brighter with every passing year. 

We will know that there is nothing that can mar the joy and the fire and the hope on this holiest of days.