Meron 5783: Festivities Will Be Led and Organized By Askonim From Charedi Community

by YS Gold 

With less than three weeks remaining to the Hillula of Rashbi, many efforts are being expended to finally celebrate the event in a manner that is joyous as well as safe and secure—following three years in which it was sadly not celebrated with the traditional joy and fervor of the decades of the past. 

Following the abysmal failure of last year’s hillula, it was understood by the authorities that changes need to be made in the approach to this event which is dominated by the Charedi community, with the sensitivities and sensibilities of this community in mind. According to agreements struck between the police and askonim, about 700 askonim from the Charedi community will keep order and direct the public in all areas of Meron. Police will only be present in case of emergency, R”l. 

In addition to safer infrastructure which is still feverishly being built and upgraded, there are a number of changes to the festivities from recent years under the direction of former Jerusalem mayoral candidate Yossi Deitch. 

According to a pamphlet released by the organizing committee, “One million people around the country celebrate Lag Ba’Omer, and of those, 200,000 make their way to the tziyun in Meron.” 

According to the current plan, 52,000 people will be allowed on the mountain at a time, switching out every five hours. The only hadlakah atop the mountain will be that of the Boyaner Rebbe, who holds the tradition of lighting the first and official bonfire. A maximum of 6,000 people will be allowed into this hadlakah. All other fires will be held below, in “area 89,” or in outlying campuses surrounding Meron. 

MK Meir Porush, who is involved in the Meron preparations, appealed to the public for cooperation. “Our community’s demonstration that we are capable of organizing such a large event in an orderly and safe manner will translate to a lot more trust and respect from the general public.”