Outline for Lag BaOmer in Meron 5783 Presented

The Minister for Yerushalayim and Jewish Traditions Rabbi Meir Porush, Meron project director Rabbi Yossi Deutsch and the Northern District Police Commander Shuki Tachauka, held a news conference on Sunday in Meron, at which they presented the plan for celebrating the hilula of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai this year.

As part of the plan, and following extensive work to prepare spacious access routes and emergency routes, and the significant progress in preparing the “hilula zone” that will span 110 dunams, the number of people that will be allowed on the mountain at any given time is expected to be much more than last year. The precise number of visitors to the mountain at any time will be determined once the work is complete and an updated engineering report is issued.

In coordination with the Transportation Ministry, it was decided to increase the amount of time allotted to each person to spend on the mountain. At the same time, there will be information and hasbarah efforts to encourage mutual consideration of others, and the need to allow other people the privilege of participating in the hilula. This will depend on understanding on all sides, and on people refraining from spending excessive amounts of time in Meron.

During the press conference, the expanded “hilula zone” (known as zone 89) was presented. This will be the central area of celebrations on Lag BaOmer. It will include 50 new dunams of parking lots for transportation, and 60 dunams of space for people to gather.

The zone will include space for events, each of which can accommodate thousands of people, with safe bleachers and places to sit. The area also will have a new and spacious area for chalaka celebrations, areas for food and drink distribution in keeping with the custom of Chai Rotel, a large dance floor with music throughout the hilula, in the tradition of Meron, and a tent with places to sit for davening and learning.

In addition, there will be a special area designated for a memorial event for the 45 people, zichronam livrachah, who perished in Meron two years ago. A yahrtzeit suedah will be held for hundreds of family members, and an azkarah will be held, accompanied by tefillos and poignant songs.

The expanded hilula area is also expected to accommodate the hadlakos of the Rebbes, Rabbanim and community leaders. Expansive spaces have been allocated for the hadlakos and for the accompanying dancing throughout the day and night.

In accordance with the recommendations of the commission of inquiry, the Bnei Akiva complex will be opened this year once again for people visiting Meron, and it will be designated for gatherings of various communities. Entry will be granted to his complex only with a preassigned ticket.

The area of the tziyun will operate with a special plan, and will include hundreds of ushers and attendants from the charedi community, who will secure all the pathways and will guarantee that order and safety are maintained. Those who are there will be asked to exercise caution and consideration for one another in order to prevent a situation of overcrowding from developing.

In an effort to preserve the traditions of Meron, areas next to the tziyun will be designated for davening and dancing, instead of the courtyard adjacent to the entrance, which will be dedicated entirely to ensuring safe entry to the tziyun. In the Chatzer Rabi Eliezer (the former Toldos Aharon hadlakah area), there will be an orchestra playing throughout the hours of the hilula, following the tradition of the musicians that used to do this in the courtyard of the tziyun throughout the years.

In Chatzer Hillel (the former Toldos Avraham Yitzchak hadlakah area) a large tent will be erected, with air conditioning, which will be furnished for davening and learning, with places to sit, very close to the holy tziyun. There will also be two areas designated to the chalakah minhag, as well as large areas and tents for women.

The only traditional hadlakah on the roof of the tziyun will be conducted by the Boyaner Rebbe, shlita, who will continue the tradition of his ancestors. The hadlakah area will be divided into two levels that will be able to accommodate thousands of people.

Extensive investment was made to guarantee the safety of all those who visit the tziyun, and to act upon the recommendations of the commission of inquiry, as well as further improvements beyond that. All of this will enable an increased number of visitors, but because of the short time frame, the extensive work to make the mountain accessible will continue in coming years, when the number of allotted visitors is expected to rise further.

As part of the work, the Burma Route, which circumnavigates Meron from the direction of the moshav, has been repaved, and doubled in width. It will now be able to accommodate safe passage for approved vehicles in both directions; in the next year, it is expected to become a full two-way route.

The emergency road, which normally was used to accommodate the pedestrians ascending to Meron, has been expanded threefold, and is now six meters wide. When necessary, it will be able to accommodate vehicles, and in normal times, will allow for safe passage for those coming to the tziyun. This includes turning the entire path to a route suitable for Kohanim, which will obviate the need to use the elevated and dangerous bridge-like path that had been there to date.

A new path has been paved next to the tziyun to connect the dancing and tefillah areas directly to the Mehadrin route in the middle of the ascent. This will reduce the number of people ascending on the central route.

The plan has been crafted over the past few months during dozens of meetings held by project director Rabbi Yossi Deutsch with all the relevant entities, notably the Israel Police and the Transportation Ministry, as well as the other government, municipal, public and private entities that have a connection to the hilula.

A hasbarah and information campaign has also been launched in all the communities where people travel to Meron, to update people about the details, the guidance and the safety regulations relating to the hilula.

Minister for Yerushalayim and Jewish Traditions Meir Porush said, “Dear olei Meron, please trust us. It will not be perfect, but if we work together, to make this year’s plan a success, it will be nearly perfect, and it will bring us to a perfect plan next year, and in coming years. It is not an exaggeration to say that what will happen this year in Meron will have a significant effect on how the hilula of Rashbi will look in coming years. It’s in our hands.”

Commander of the Northern District of the Israel Police Shuki Tachauka, said that “We are in complete cooperation, all with the mutual goal of a safe and joyous hilula. One does not have to come one on account of the other. With the right work, which we are doing together, it will happen. When there is good will on both sides, solutions that are good for everyone can be reached. I am turning to the chareidi sector to say, we are together on this. Let us prove to everyone that we can work together.”

Project director Yossi Deutsch said that “we have worked for months to prepare areas that will make it possible to increase the number of participants at the hilula. We will wait for the engineering assessment closer to Lag BaOmer, but it is definitely big news. The hilula area, which is an inseparable part of the tradition of Meron, will make it possible for us to have Meron this year the way we have known it for generations. Now it depends on us, both those of us in charge, and you, the public, to guarantee that this year will just be a prelude to many joyous years in Meron.”