MK Yisrael Eichler, who has been making the pilgrimage to Meron for about sixty years, responded at noon (Monday) to the call of MK Moshe Gafni, who this morning called on MKs not to make the pilgrimage to Meron this year on Lag BaOmer - and said: This year, in fact, we should make the pilgrimage to Meron.
""What is the Holy One, blessed be He, to all, and what is Rabbi Shimon to all," says Eichler. "In this difficult year, when a decree was issued that prevented millions of Jews from coming to the Rashbi's Zion on the day of the festival and seeking salvation, it is the duty of everyone who is permitted to come and pray, and to beg for all salvation and comfort for them.".
Eichler attacked his colleague: "Anyone who does not feel longing for Meron and has never been there on Lag BaOmer, at least will not preach a sermon to the rabbinical messengers, who were allowed to go up and pray, and who have been receiving requests in the past week to remember them from crowds of Jews in Israel and around the world whose hearts go out to Meron and who ask that they stand and pray for them and for all of Israel.".
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Eichler added: "On a personal note - initially I thought about not making the pilgrimage to Meron this year. But since my father, Rabbi Menashe Eichler, z"l, made the pilgrimage seventy-five years ago to Zion Rashbi, including in 1967, about a week before the Six-Day War, when the place was in danger and only a few went there with dedication - and became a public emissary for tens of thousands of Jews who could not make the pilgrimage, I feel an obligation this year to make the pilgrimage and pray as an emissary for all of Israel who was prevented from making the pilgrimage.".
Eichler added: "Anyone who wants me to mention their name on the K-grade can send their name and mother's name by email: [email protected].".
As reported in Haderim 10, the chairman of Degel Hatorah this morning called on Knesset members and ministers to serve as an example to the masses of Beit Yisrael, and not to go to Mount Meron.
“In this difficult time, when the masses of the House of Israel are not allowed to ascend Mount Meron on Lag BaOmer, due to concerns about the mass spread of the coronavirus, there are members of Knesset and ministers who intend to come along with their aides,” said Gafni. ”I call on them to set an example for the entire public and to refrain from ascending this Lag BaOmer to commemorate the divine Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Mount Meron.“.
So far, Ministers Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman have announced that they will not travel to Meron on Lag BaOmer this year.
MK Yaakov Margi also said: ”I have refrained from preaching morality these days, and in general, I call on anyone who is thinking of getting wise and ascending Mount Meron in violation of the instructions – please respect Rabbi Shimon and the world of Torah. Don’t despise us, we have been despised enough recently. I personally do not ascend Mount Meron even though I enjoy freedom of movement.“.
