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“There is concern that terrorist elements will seek to target a large-scale event,” the letter noted.
By United with Israel Staff
Israel has sharply scaled back this year’s Lag Ba’Omer celebrations at Mount Meron, citing escalating security concerns along the northern border and the risk of a mass-casualty event amid ongoing Hezbollah violations of a fragile ceasefire.
In a formal letter issued Sunday following a high-level security assessment, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs confirmed that the traditional mass pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai would not proceed as usual. Instead, strict limits will be imposed on attendance.
“After several security assessments held under the direction of the prime minister regarding the matter,” the letter states, officials decided to update Home Front Command guidelines.
Under the revised policy, gatherings in the Meron area and nearby communities, including Bar Yochai, Or HaGanuz, and Safsufa, will be capped at 1,500 people. Elsewhere in the country, no changes were announced.
The decision effectively cancels the annual Meron pilgrimage, which typically draws hundreds of thousands of celebrants for bonfires, prayer, and festivities marking Lag Ba’Omer. While the holiday will still be observed this year on May 4-5, large-scale celebrations at the site will not take place.
Lag Ba’Omer is widely believed to mark the day of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage. Each year, hundreds of thousands gather at his tomb in Meron for celebrations that include bonfires, singing, and dancing.
In his directive, Fuchs emphasized that the restrictions were based on evolving security threats rather than routine precautions. “The Lag Ba’Omer events at Meron will not take place this year in a mass-participation format but rather in a limited, symbolic framework,” he wrote, adding that any permitted activity would be conducted in accordance with Home Front Command directives.
The letter also warned of heightened risks tied to the site’s proximity to the Lebanese border. “There is concern that terrorist elements will seek to target a large-scale event,” it noted, referencing both the size of the crowds and the geographic vulnerability of the area.
The move comes against the backdrop of continued Hezbollah aggression despite an ongoing ceasefire. In recent days, the Iran-backed terror group has launched drones and rockets toward Israeli forces and northern communities.
Against this volatile backdrop, Israeli officials made clear that public safety considerations outweighed the longstanding tradition of mass gatherings at Meron.
“Specific instructions regarding the limited format of the event will be issued closer to the date of the celebration by the relevant authorities,” Fuchs wrote.
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