Lag BaOmer celebrations have begun: Thousands of people are already in the town of Meron on Friday morning, having arrived early for the Rashbi's Hilula celebrations, and preparations on the ground for the arrival of the tens of thousands who are expected to arrive in Meron on Shabbat evening, to participate in the giant lighting of the lamps, to prostrate themselves on the holy site in prayer, and to participate in the joyous dances - are in full swing.
• For the special channel: Celebrating Lag BaOmer among the Haredim 10
Thousands of those who come early for the Lag BaOmer Shabbat are staying in the homes of the Meron community, in B&Bs, hotels, as well as in institutions and barns that have been converted into accommodation complexes. Thousands more are staying in surrounding settlements, as well as in Safed and Tiberias.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
Leading the celebrants in Meron on Shabbat will be the Rebbe of Bayan, who is staying in Meron for the central lighting that will open the Lag BaOmer events, as is the tradition of Beit Rosin. The one who is of great interest among the thousands is the influential Rabbi Elimelech Biderman, who will be sitting Shabbat in Meron, and will hold a Shabbat night tish in the huge tent of 'Tzedekat Rashbi' on the Mehadrin road. The Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzhak Biderman of Lelov Jerusalem, will also be staying Shabbat in Meron with his audience of admirers and followers.
Hundreds of Karlin Stolin followers will spend Shabbat in the shadow of the Rebbe, in the Bnei Akiva compound. The Rebbe, the Rebbe of Zevzi'el, will also be staying Shabbat in Meron with his congregation of followers. Another special personality will be staying in Meron: the Rebbe, the Reverend Rabbi Yosef Yoel Kahn of Bekshei Emunah, who will hold his Shulchan on Shabbat night.
The Rebbe of Biala will spend Shabbat at his seminary in Safed, with crowds of guests in the city expected to participate in the recitation of the tish. The Rebbe of Biala Bnei Brak will also spend Shabbat in Safed. The president of the Shas Council of Sages, Rosh Yeshiva 'Porat Yosef', the Gaon Rabbi Shalom Cohen, will also spend Shabbat in the city of the Kabbalists, and will hold a lighting ceremony on the eve of Shabbat.
The Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Zibler from Stocyn-USA is staying for the first time with his followers near Meron - in the settlement of Bar Yochai, in preparation for the lighting of the lamp on Shabbat. The Rebbe from Spinka-USA is staying in Tiberias on Shabbat - and will arrive on Saturday with his followers in Meron.
On Friday afternoon, the traditional procession of the Abu family set out from Safed towards Meron. The procession has been in practice for about 120 years - since the days when there was no Torah scroll in Zion, the Rashbi, and on the eve of the Day of Remembrance, they would bring an ancient Torah scroll, 400 years old, from the Abuhav synagogue. The foot procession is attended by public figures from the Sephardic community. Large police forces are securing the procession.
When to light
The celebrations in Meron officially begin on Shabbat evening, with the central lighting ceremony by the Rebbe of Bayan, who is the "Khazka" for lighting the bonfire on the roof of Zion. The official time when the Rebbe will light the bonfire is 11:30 p.m., but changes may occur. The lighting of the Bayan attracts tens of thousands of spectators, but this year, in an unusual move, the Rebbe ordered Do not record the lighting in photographs. Immediately after the lighting is complete, the klezmers begin playing Meron songs, and the thousands of people begin dancing, which lasts for about 20 hours without a break.
The Rebbe of Karlin, who is staying with his followers in Meron during Shabbat, will light the Hasidic bonfire at the Bnei Akiva compound in Maale Hahar about an hour after Shabbat. According to the plan, at 1:00 AM, the Hasidic people, together with the Rebbe's followers, will light another bonfire. The lighting of the 'Shuvo Banim' community is also expected at this time. The leader of the community, Rabbi Eliezer Berland, who is staying in Africa, will be absent from the lighting. Many members of the 'Shuvo Banim' community in Jerusalem will participate earlier, about an hour after Shabbat ends, in the lighting that Rabbi Shalom Arush, leader of the 'Hot Shel Chesed' institutions, in Jerusalem, will conduct.
At 3:00 a.m., the traditional lighting of the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Amar, is expected, as well as the lighting of the Satmar community.
Throughout the night, thousands from all over the country are expected to flock to the festivities, with prayers and boisterous dancing taking place at the Zion compound. During the day, halakhah ceremonies are also held for hundreds of three-year-old children, who come with their families.
The lighting of history
Additional lightings that attract many spectators will take place again starting at noon: The Rebbe of Rachmastrywka is expected to light a bonfire in honor of the celebration at noon, at the Bayan Hasidic lighting complex, on the roof of Zion Rashbi. At 1:00 PM-2:30 PM, the Breslov community of Rabbi Koenig of Safed and the Hamidadim community of Rabbi Leibel Mintzberg of Jerusalem will light the bonfires.
At 4:00 PM, the lighting of the fire for the Alov Chassidus is expected, as this year the Rebbe will be absent from the ceremony due to a serious infection in his leg. The elders of the Chassidus will light the fire in his place.
The main lighting ceremony that marks the day of the festival - attended by thousands - will take place at 6:00 PM at the Toldot Avraham Yitzhak Hasidim complex, located near the Zion Dome, followed by the main lighting ceremony led by his brother, the Rebbe of Toldot Aharon, held at the Toldot Aharon complex, which will last for an hour and attract great interest.
Meanwhile, the United Hatzalah organization in Meron has already begun its major security operation for Lag BaOmer. So far, starting last night, 15 medical cases have been treated, including a person who was electrocuted during work on site, and additional cases of injuries, bruises, fainting, and breathing problems.
Volunteer paramedics and medics from United Hatzalah are already working in the area of the Meron community in shifts around the clock to provide medical care to celebrants when needed.
