The hillside Upper Galilee town of Meron will be closed on Lag Ba’Omer on Saturday night and Sunday to the usual huge crowd of celebrants due to security risks from on Lag Ba’Omer – the 33rd day of the counting between Passover and Shavuot. But celebrations will nevertheless be marked around the country with bonfires and dancing. Many people ordinarily go the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yohai, the Mishnaic safe who died on that day about 1,800 years ago to pray and light bonfires.
The event also marks when a plague that swept through the students of the sage Rabbi Akiva ended and mourning customs cease. The Health and Environmental Protection Ministries have urged those who celebrate to ensure safety and health and protect the environment. Health Minister Uriel Bosso warned that “bonfires can be dangerous to public health and the environment.
Everyone must follow the safety procedures and obey the instructions so as to avoid unnecessary harm. I call on parents to remain vigilant.” Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman added that “this year too, and especially now, we must protect the environment and the health of ourselves and our children.
Family gatherings without polluting should be replaces by alternative activities like family walks in nature.” In addition, in preparation for the hot weather conditions at 30 degrees Celsius and higher that raise the risk of and spreading, the Israel Fire and Rescue Commissioner signed an order allowing bonfires to be .