Thousands stuck in parking lots and traffic jams, fire extinguished in 'Toldot' • Current

May 18, 2022   

On Mount Meron, the Lag BaOmer celebration opened this evening (Wednesday) at Zion Rashbi. How will you get to Meron on Lag BaOmer? Everything you need to know before In light of last year's major disaster, which claimed the lives of 45 revelers, the police will enforce strict restrictions on the festivities, including a limit of up to 4 hours per visitor on the mountain, entry to the event only with tickets purchased in advance, a limit of occupancy to only 16,000 people at any given time - and a ban on the sale or distribution of food on site. About 8,000 police officers are deployed throughout the Rashbi's Tomb complex, securing the Lag BaOmer celebration. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said this morning: "The Israeli government has made a major investment in order to enable broad and safe participation. I ask the public to act according to the published instructions, and to arrive only with a ticket, so that we can hold the festivities safely." So far, minor clashes have been recorded near the complex, due to a handful of extremists. In the meantime, 3 teenagers were arrested with cutters and Japanese knives hidden in their tefillin bags.

Bonfire at the Toldot complex. Photo: North Fire Department

00:35: Firefighters from the Northern District stationed at the Rashbi celebration complex in Meron were called to extinguish an improvised and illegal fire in the 'Toldot Aharon' complex. The firefighters extinguished the fire using a portable fire extinguishing system on the back of a fighter, which allows for quick extinguishing in places where there is no access to a fire truck. 00:30: MK Michael Malchieli: "Thousands of passengers, men, women and children have been stuck in parking lots for over three hours, even though Mount Meron does not meet the capacity set in the regulations." 00:30: Passengers complain: "After 7 hours of traveling without toilets and drinks, they have now placed another roadblock on 'Derech Mehadrin' on the mountain. "The ticket only leaves us one hour to be on the mountain." 00:25: Following the lighting of an impromptu bonfire in the 'Toldot Aharon' complex in violation of regulations, and heavy traffic on some of the access roads and inside the Zion - the orchestra stopped.

Photo: Skypro

00:01: A snapshot from the drone unit operating at the event for the National Public Transportation Authority in the Ministry of Transportation. 23:00: By this time, 440 buses have arrived at the Rashbi's tomb by public transportation and private transportation. 21:50: Deputy Minister Matan Kahane: "The lighting of the Boyan Hasidic shrine has ended and now, after the proclamation is read, the first wave of celebrants is leaving so that the second wave can enter. This is what mutual guarantee looks like. Happy Holidays!"" 21:44: Information Headquarters - Rashbi's celebration: After a joint consultation between the North District Police Chief Shimon Lavie and the Project Manager Zviki Tesler, it was decided to continue the flow of traffic to the mountain. In a few minutes, dozens of buses will be released from the Ein Hozim, Eliflet and Elyakim parking lots. 21:37 Bayan Hasidic 'cut off' the lighting event, after the police announced that buses would not be allowed into Mount Meron, even though it was empty - until the lighting was over. 21:15: 20 buses were released to continue their journey to Meron. Information Headquarters: "We apologize again to those waiting, the safety of the celebrants is important to us.".

Despair in the parking lots. Photo: H. Cohen

21:02: Collapse in parking lots: Hundreds of people are stuck in a parking lot near Eliflet, unable to leave, after the police decided to block the mountain. According to them, there is no lighting, no water, and no toilets. "People are exhausted after more than 5 hours on the road, adults, children, and women in buses. A complete collapse," they say. In addition, dozens of buses were stopped by the police on the way to Meron, even though there are only 10,000 people on the mountain - 6,000 fewer than the regulations allow.      

The Rebbe of Karlin appeals for Zion

20:45: There are about 12,000 revelers on Mount Meron. Although the projector and engineers confirmed 16,000 at the same time, the police decided to stop traffic to the mountain. 20:36: Information Headquarters - Rashbi Revelry: The revelry complex has reached full capacity and in joint consultation with the Northern District Commander and the projector, it was decided to stop the buses waiting in the parking lots. At this moment, a situation assessment is taking place to determine when traffic will resume. The safety of the revelers is important to us and we apologize to those waiting.  

At the lighting of soul candles for the 45th Meron martyrs. Photo: Information Center for the Rashbi Celebration

20:00: 6,200 people in the mountain sector. 4,900 at the lighting. 400 in the Zion building. Bus traffic to Meron has been stopped at the direction of the district commander. There are no congestion in the parking lots at this stage. Small congestion in Safed and in the Elifelet parking lot. 19:44: The audience at the lighting of the Neshav candles by the Rabbi of Me'an, for the repose of the souls of 45 Meron saints. 19:07: The Rebbe of Bayan on his way to the lighting ceremony. 18:25: So far, 18,792 people have entered the celebration area and 13,828 have left. [Gallery]