Mount Meron tragedy

Five years after Meron: Dubi Weissenstern on memory, mourning, and meaning

The head of ZAKA reflects on the lessons of the Lag Ba’omer tragedy – and what they reveal about resilience, responsibility, and the challenges facing Israel today

Dubi Weissenstern, CEO of ZAKA, ref!ects on the Meron tragedy.
View of the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron, northern Israel, May 1, 2024.

A responsible choice: Why canceling Lag Ba’omer at Mount Meron was the right call - editorial

 Compound 89 in Meron is seen ahead of next week’s Lag BaOmer celebrations, as police conduct an inspection tour around the tomb complex, April 26, 2026

Five years after disaster, Israel limits Lag Ba'omer celebrations on Meron amid security fears

 The real festivities begin when a huge bonfire is lit at midnight on Lag Ba'omer.

Celebrating Lag Ba’omer, a heroic chapter in Jewish history - opinion


Have haredim learned from Meron, Karlin disasters?

Does the reporting of the Bransdofer sukkah in Jerusalem to authorities signify a profound change in the haredi sector?

 SUKKAH BROUHAHA: Toting schach in Mea She’arim.

Is Israel a ‘partatch’ state?

Whether it is the Gilboa Escape, the death of Barel Shmueli or the Meron disaster, Israel keeps messing up. Will an end be put to the partatch? Time will tell.

  Police officers and prison guards at the scene of a prison escape of  six Palestinian prisoners, outside the Gilboa prison, northern Israel, September 6, 2021. Photo by Flash90

Meron Disaster: Kotel Rabbi blames variety of groups

Holy Sites rabbi slams extremist haredim, police, Justice Ministry.

Workers are seen removing bleachers on Mount Meron, on July 1, 2021.

Top police official: Politicians refused to limit Meron attendance

The Mount Meron investigations committee began taking witness statements on Sunday morning, with the commander of the Northern District Police Superintendent Shimon Lavi as the first witness

Commander of the Northern District Police Superintendent Shimon Lavi, the first witness of the Meron committee on August 22.

State Comptroller bows out of Meron probe in favor of state inquiry

Englman first announced that he would probe the disaster back on May 3 when it appeared that the government of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu would block any attempt at a state inquiry.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews look at stairs with waste on it in Mount Meron, northern Israel, where fatalities were reported among the thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage for annual commemorations that include all-night prayer and dance, April 30, 2021.

Memorial for Mount Meron victims vandalized at the scene of the disaster

The memorial features photos of the 45 people crushed to death at the Lag Ba'omer event in April of this year and hangs next to the path where the crush occurred.

The memorial for the victims of the Mount Meron tragedy was found destroyed on the ground, July 14, 2021

Israel's A-G suspends Mount Meron tragedy investigation

The investigation into the disaster in which 45 men and boys were crushed to death at the Meron holy site in April did not get past preliminary steps.

The bodies of the victims of the tragedy at Mount Meron on Lag Ba'omer.

Amid antisemitism and disasters, we must face our fears - opinion

Learning to do anything involves overcoming fear. Learning the technical aspects of skiing is 10% of the challenge. The other 90% is overcoming the fear that you’ll get injured once you start moving.

Billboards calling out antisemitism up in Times Square, New York, USA, July 6, 2021.

Could a Surfside-style building collapse happen in Israel? - analysis

While investigators have not concluded what caused nearly half of the 40-year-old high-rise to suddenly collapse, reports indicate that deep structural problems were known and ignored.

Partial collapse of residential building in Surfside

How will demolition order for Meron affect investigation into disaster?

The families of those who died in the Mount Meron tragedy in April worry this could compromise the investigation into the disaster.

Workers are seen removing bleachers on Mount Meron, on July 1, 2021.