Israel Cancels Annual Lag Ba’Omer Pilgrimage at Mount Meron

Israel has canceled the annual Lag Ba’Omer pilgrimage at Mount Meron in the wake of ongoing security concerns. Routes leading to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai will be blocked starting Sunday, with additional routes closing on Monday. These closures will remain in place until Wednesday. The change came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed off on updated restrictions capping outdoor gatherings at 200 people and indoor gatherings at 600 people. 

Until the latest updates, the gathering was planned to proceed under a different framework with up to 1,500 people in each compound, two-hour entry blocks, and separate sections at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the Bnei Akiva compound, Moshav Meron, and Compound 89. The plan had also been changed several times before its ultimate cancellation. Only people with authorization and proof of residency will be allowed into the tomb area and community, upon presenting identification. 

Israel Police have warned members of the public to refrain from attempting to enter. Border police have also been deployed to prevent anyone from entering on foot. 

Government ministries had also been debating transportation arrangements and control over public access to Mount Meron. The main concern was the lack of full regulation of arrivals, and even a reduced event could still lead to overcrowding, independent attempts to reach the site, and public safety risks. 

The annual Lag Ba’Omer pilgrimage leads to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a prominent figure in Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah). In 2021, 45 people were killed in a crowd crush at the site, and since then, it has remained under heightened scrutiny.