Towards the celebration in the emergency room: While the government intends to approve only three lightings near the Rashbi Zion in Meron, with the participation of a limited audience, a 'petition' is currently being organized for the Prime Minister and government ministers - demanding approval to open the Rashbi Zion area in Meron on Lag BaOmer, for cars that will enter the Zion area, without getting out of the vehicle, using the 'drive-in' method.
The person behind the petition is Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Miller, CEO of the events company 'Bama Berama', who has been among the logistical organizers of Lag BaOmer events on Mount Meron for 17 years.
In a conversation with Haredim 10 he says: "We could have asked, if we wanted to use the concept of a demonstration like in Tel Aviv," he says. "We have 27 dunams of space in Meron that the public can stand in. We could have asked that every two hours they let other people in to protest, and every two hours 6,000 people would enter the designated area. If we wanted to be clever, we would be clever 100 times. But that doesn't mean that if we don't be clever or make combinations - then we don't need to be approved.
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""We say - let us run a 'drive-in' route. There is a custom that the late Ari founded, which is an ancient custom, to do a Halkah for children in Meron. These tender children, this is history that we cannot restore for them. It is not like lighting bonfires. The rabbis who did not light one this year - will light one next year. These children, if they are not allowed to do a Halkah in Meron, it is something that we cannot restore.".
""Let us make a route that meets the Ministry of Health rules. We don't get out of the vehicles. Any vehicle that arrives in Meron will take him fifteen minutes there. That's enough for him to cut his hair, show the child the score and pray.".
How many have signed the petition so far?
""Over 300 people, we will soon launch a larger campaign.".
Who did you talk to about the program?
""We talked to the Haredi Knesset members. Most of them are reluctant about Lag BaOmer. They want to work for the yeshivot and then on Lag BaOmer. What does that mean, that if you work for the yeshivot, you don't have to deal with Lag BaOmer? What does that have to do with it?""
He adds: "Explain to me the convoys that were on Independence Day. Why is it different?""
Do you want to open the mountain to everyone?
""Everyone could come, certainly those who do the Halkah for children. Explain to me, why not? If the B&Bs open on Sunday and the malls open, why don't they understand that just as malls are an essential product for people, going to spend money in a sock store - why isn't the Rashbi's Zion an essential product for a person who is 70 years old climbing Mount Meron? If it complies with the Ministry of Health rules, why not allow it?"
""People will stay in their vehicles and pray. Lag BaOmer is not just about lighting candles, it's about prayers. Many people who have troubles want to come to pray, pour out their hearts and also do a halkah. The public wants to come to pray - that's much more important than the lighting candles.".
""I'm trying to understand what event has been canceled in the last two months in all sectors that could have been solved with a car route. In contrast, if there was a custom to go see the Ben-Gurion monument on Independence Day, they would have made a route to honk instead of laying a wreath. There is no event that could have been solved with a car route so far.".
""They will come and say - on Memorial Day, they closed the cemeteries. Why on Lag BaOmer? The problem of cemeteries cannot be solved with a car route. They allowed the 'Black Flags' protest to hold demonstrations, they allowed demonstrations. Why not on Lag BaOmer?""
Miller adds: "They'll claim that they closed the country on Independence Day? Because they closed on Independence Day, you won't open on Lag BaOmer, and because they didn't open on Lag BaOmer, you won't open on Shavuot? What does that have to do with it? After all, we're making progress and opening more and more places.".
And he reveals: "I have been approached by very rich people who are willing to come and clean the toilets at Zion Rashbi, just for the privilege of being in Meron on Lag BaOmer.".
