In advance of this year’s hilula of the Tanna Rav Shimon bar Yochai, several leading gedolei Yisroel from the Sephardic community have issued a powerful letter urging the public to avoid traveling to Meron close to Shabbos.
The letter, signed by Rav Yitzchak Yosef, Rav Moshe Tzadka, Chacham Nissim Ben Shimon, and Rav Shlomo Machpoud, declares that visiting Meron in the days surrounding Lag Ba’omer—either before or after—is to be treated as equivalent to visiting on the actual day of the hilula.
The letter comes just days before the hilula of Rashbi, which this year falls on Thursday night and Friday.
“Because this year the day of the hilula of the Tanna Elokai Rav Shimon bar Yochai, zechuso yagen aleinu, begins Thursday night, the eve of the 18th of Iyar 5785, and continues until the onset of Shabbos,” the rabbanim write, “many members of Beis Yisroel long to take part in this holy gathering on this awe-inspiring day.
“However,” they warn, “the limited time before Shabbos poses serious risks. What should be a rectification could turn into a great spiritual failure, as many G-d-fearing Jews could find themselves caught mid-travel near Shabbos. Even those responsible for maintaining order on Har Meron could, chas v’shalom, be driven to desecrate Shabbos in their efforts to ensure the safety of the crowds.”
Therefore, Rav Yitzchak Yosef rules, “It is correct and proper that those who normally visit the tziyun of the Tanna Elokai Rav Shimon bar Yochai on the day of the hilula should instead go starting Thursday night through Friday daytime, or, alternatively, during the following week after Shabbos. In Heaven, it is regarded as if they visited on the actual day of the hilula, and the merit of the Tanna Elokai will stand in their defense and that of their families.”
The Rishon LeTzion concludes the letter by stating, “It is certainly considered as if one ascended on the very day of the hilula, just as is customary when visiting a grave for a yahrtzeit, which can also be observed on nearby days if necessary. Heaven forbid that a desire to honor the tzaddik should lead to stumbling blocks such as Shabbos desecration or endangerment due to the rush and overcrowding.”
He adds an urgent warning rooted in the Torah’s commandment to protect life: “V’nishmartem me’od l’nafshoseichem—do not enter dangerous areas or places of overcrowding. Those who caution and are cautious will merit abundant peace.”
Finally, he notes: “Bnei Torah who are immersed in their sacred learning should not interrupt their studies to travel to Meron, as my father, Maran zt”l, clearly ruled.”
{Matzav.com Israel}