As tens of thousands prepare to ascend Har Meron for the annual Lag Ba’omer hilula at the kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, the families of the 45 victims who perished in the 2021 Meron disaster have issued a heartfelt public letter, urging attendees to strictly adhere to safety guidelines.
The letter, released through the Meron Kedoshim 5781 Organization — headed by Rav Yisrael Shimon Elchadad, who lost two of his brothers in the tragedy — was penned with what the families described as “unfading pain” and a profound sense of “mission and responsibility for every Jew who sets foot on the mountain.”
This year’s hilula, which falls on Thursday night and Erev Shabbos, follows a similar schedule and timeframe to that of the tragic year, with only a narrow 16-hour window for all events. Due to the Shabbos schedule, crowding and time constraints are once again a pressing concern.
“The mountain cannot accommodate everyone at once,” the families warned. “Overcrowding — chas v’shalom — is a danger to life.”
They noted that under the guidance of event organizers, engineers, and safety officials, each visitor’s time on the mountain will be limited to a maximum of five hours. The letter appeals to the public’s sense of collective responsibility and unity.
“We beg you: Please follow the rules. Don’t push. Don’t cause unnecessary congestion. And here lies the key — practice areivus hadadit, mutual responsibility. Every Jew who ascends the mountain does so on behalf of his brother as well,” the letter reads.
The families urged visitors to make the most of their time by davening, rejoicing, and thanking Hashem, and then descending in peace so others may experience the same.
“When you arrive, daven, rejoice, and express gratitude to Hashem. And when you are done, descend with love, so others can merit that same opportunity. In this way, we will all be able to go up in tefillah, joy, and safety. In this way, we begin to heal the break, and we honor the kedoshim not just with memory, but through real acts of responsibility and unity.”
{Matzav.com Israel}