Channels

Photo: Efi Shrir
Hilula celebrations
Photo: Efi Shrir

Tens of thousands in Meron to celebrate Lag B'Omer

Rebbe of Boyan lights first bonfire at 1:15am, marking the beginning of celebrations in Meron. 22 bonfires to be lit, with the last one at 7pm Sunday. Hundreds of thousands expected to flock to the grave of Rabbi Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai for the celebrations.

The Rebbe of Boyan lit the first bonfire in Meron at 1:15am Sunday, marking the beginning of Lag B'Omer celebrations at the grave of Rabbi Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

 

 

Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh, Religious Services Minister David Azoulay and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan all attended the lighting of the first bonfire.

 

During the two-day hillula (death anniversary) celebrations, 22 bonfires will be lit by the different Hasidic dynasties' rebbes in an order determined in advance. The last bonfire will be lit by the Toldos Aharon dynasty at 7pm on Sunday.

 

Rabbi Nachum Dov Brayer of the Boyan Hasidic dynasty lights the first bonfire in Meron (Photo courtesy of Eli Aviv)
Rabbi Nachum Dov Brayer of the Boyan Hasidic dynasty lights the first bonfire in Meron (Photo courtesy of Eli Aviv)

 

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the hillula celebrations at the Galillee moshav, with some 15-20,000 having already arrived on Saturday night.

 

Due to big crowds expected, police closed roads around Meron, allowing access only to public transportation, security and rescue forces, and local residents. Some 5,000 police officers were sent to Meron to secure the events alongside large forces from the Fire & Rescue Authority and hundreds of doctors, paramedics, medics and other medical personnel from Magen David Adom and other groups.

 

MDA has treated 46 people in Meron since Saturday night, suffering from fainting, heart issues, chronic medical problems, exhaustion and light bruising. Fifteen of them were sent to the hospital for further treatment. United Hatzala has treated 141 people since Thursday, including injuries from falling, snake and scorpion bites, bruises, cuts, and respiratory issues.

 

Hillula celebrations in Meron    (באדיבות אלי אביב - בימוי והפקה)

Hillula celebrations in Meron   (Video courtesy of Eli Aviv productions)

סגורסגור

שליחה לחבר

 הקלידו את הקוד המוצג
תמונה חדשה

שלח
הסרטון נשלח לחברך

סגורסגור

הטמעת הסרטון באתר שלך

 קוד להטמעה:

 

Celebrations began Friday at noon with the traditional Torah procession from Safed to Meron, held for the 184th year.

 

Preparations for the Meron hillula did not run smoothly this year. The Chief Rabbinate announced the postponement of Lag B'Omer celebrations from Saturday to Sunday to avoid the desecration of Shabbat. Accordingly, the Education Ministry postponed the school vacation from Sunday to Monday.

 

However, the hillula itself was not postponed, as the ultra-Orthodox organizing it insisted on holding it in its original date. This left some 70,000 people with no way to get to the hillula as the 300 buses meant to ferry them to Meron were instead used to transport students to school on Sunday morning.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.14.17, 10:50
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment