A projection of an Israeli flag on the old city walls in Jerusalem on May 2, 2021, as Israel declared a national day of mourning for victims of a stampede during the Lag Bomer holiday at Mount Meron. The deadly crush at Mount Meron in northern Israel is described as one of the worst peacetime disasters since the nation's founding in 1948. AFP
A projection of an Israeli flag on the old city walls in Jerusalem on May 2, 2021, as Israel declared a national day of mourning for victims of a stampede during the Lag Bomer holiday at Mount Meron. The deadly crush at Mount Meron in northern Israel is described as one of the worst peacetime disasters since the nation's founding in 1948. AFP
Young Israelis light candles in memory of the 45 ultra-Orthodox Jews killed in a stampede at a religious festival last year, during a vigil in Tel Aviv, Israel. Police at Mt Meron were expecting the arrival of thousands of mostly ultra-Orthodox worshippers and revellers on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, a year after the fatal stampede. AP Photo
Young Israelis light candles in memory of the 45 ultra-Orthodox Jews killed in a stampede at a religious festival last year, during a vigil in Tel Aviv, Israel. Police at Mt Meron were expecting the arrival of thousands of mostly ultra-Orthodox worshippers and revellers on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, a year after the fatal stampede. AP Photo
Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend a funeral in Petah Tikva of one of the victims of the Mt Meron stampede on April 30, 2021. AFP
Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend a funeral in Petah Tikva of one of the victims of the Mt Meron stampede on April 30, 2021. AFP
Rescue teams in the aftermath of the stampede near the reputed tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a second-century Talmudic sage, where mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews flock to mark the Lag Bomer holiday. AFP
Rescue teams in the aftermath of the stampede near the reputed tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a second-century Talmudic sage, where mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews flock to mark the Lag Bomer holiday. AFP
Orthodox Jewish men on April 30, 2021 at the scene of a stampede in which 45 people died near the reputed tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. AFP
Orthodox Jewish men on April 30, 2021 at the scene of a stampede in which 45 people died near the reputed tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. AFP

MENA

Israel's Lag BaOmer celebration reformed a year after 45 pilgrims died in crush

The Mount Meron accident last year was Israel's worst civilian disaster

Rosie Scammell
Rosie Scammell
Mount Meron

May 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Israel's emergency services are bracing for thousands of Jewish worshippers to mark the Lag BaOmer holiday on Wednesday, a year after 45 pilgrims were crushed to death during the celebrations.

At the Mount Meron site in northern Israel, paramedics in white shirts and ushers in neon colours are waiting for the worshippers.

“We prepare for every event to happen, we are ready,” said Yossi Halabi, from the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency services provider.

Each year, the sacred site is filled with Jewish pilgrims who travel from across Israel and around the world to celebrate Lag BaOmer, which is marked with bonfires, prayers and dancing.

An estimated 100,000 people attended last year, when 45 people were crushed to death while trying to leave a ceremony through a narrow passageway.

“We saw a lot of dead people, lying one above the other, at this height,” said Mr Halabi, holding his hand out at shoulder level.

The accident was Israel’s worst civilian disaster and sparked an inquiry and an overhaul of how the event is run.

Authorities have limited the site’s capacity to 16,000, with pilgrims ordered to spend no more than four hours at the site.

Reform to prevent another tragedy

As emergency services prepared for the holiday to get under way on Wednesday night, police roadblocks were set up across the surrounding area. A helicopter buzzed overhead, while the force said it would also use drones for surveillance of Mount Meron.

“The government of Israel has made a considerable investment in order to facilitate an extensive and safe participation,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Wednesday.

“I ask the public to act in accordance with the directives that have been published and to go only with a ticket so that we can have a safe celebration,” he added.

According to the new rules, pilgrims must have a timed ticket and take a shuttle bus to the holy hillside.

Anticipating opposition to the restrictions, the police said officers will respond with a “firm hand” to anyone trying to disrupt the event.

A man checks the personal belongings left at the scene of a stampede that took place during the Jewish religious festival of Lag BaOmer in the northern Israeli town of Meron. AFP
A man checks the personal belongings left at the scene of a stampede that took place during the Jewish religious festival of Lag BaOmer in the northern Israeli town of Meron. AFP
Personal belongings of Orthodox Jews can be seen on Mount Meron, northern Israel. Reuters
Personal belongings of Orthodox Jews can be seen on Mount Meron, northern Israel. Reuters
People stand at the scene of a stampede that took place during a religious gathering overnight in the northern Israeli town of Meron. AFP
People stand at the scene of a stampede that took place during a religious gathering overnight in the northern Israeli town of Meron. AFP
An injured man talks to reporters as Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, left, visits the wounded at Ziv hospital, in the northern city of Safad. AFP
An injured man talks to reporters as Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, left, visits the wounded at Ziv hospital, in the northern city of Safad. AFP
A rescue worker collects hats worn by of Orthodox Jews in plastic bags after dozens were killed in crush at religious festival in Mount Meron. Getty Images
A rescue worker collects hats worn by of Orthodox Jews in plastic bags after dozens were killed in crush at religious festival in Mount Meron. Getty Images
An Orthodox Jew prays after after dozens killed in a crush at the Lag BaOmer religious festival in Mount Meron. Getty Images
An Orthodox Jew prays after after dozens killed in a crush at the Lag BaOmer religious festival in Mount Meron. Getty Images
Medics and rescue workers carry stretchers at the Lag BaOmer event in Mount Meron, northern Israel, where fatalities were reported among thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage for annual commemorations that include all-night prayer and dance. Reuters
Medics and rescue workers carry stretchers at the Lag BaOmer event in Mount Meron, northern Israel, where fatalities were reported among thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage for annual commemorations that include all-night prayer and dance. Reuters
Israeli security officials and rescuers carry away victims who died during Lag BaOmer celebrations at Mount Meron in northern Israel. JINIPIX via AP
Israeli security officials and rescuers carry away victims who died during Lag BaOmer celebrations at Mount Meron in northern Israel. JINIPIX via AP
Israeli security officials and rescuers carry the body of a victim who died during a Lag BaOmer celebration at Mount Meron in northern Israel. AP Photo
Israeli security officials and rescuers carry the body of a victim who died during a Lag BaOmer celebration at Mount Meron in northern Israel. AP Photo
Israeli security officials and rescuers inspect bodies of dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews who died during Lag BaOmer celebrations at Mount Meron, Israel. EPA
Israeli security officials and rescuers inspect bodies of dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews who died during Lag BaOmer celebrations at Mount Meron, Israel. EPA
Medics and rescue workers carry stretchers after dozens of people were killed or injured during the Jewish festival in Mount Meron, northern Israel. Reuters
Medics and rescue workers carry stretchers after dozens of people were killed or injured during the Jewish festival in Mount Meron, northern Israel. Reuters
Emergency workers gather at the scene after dozens of people were killed and others injured at the Lag BaOmer festival at Mount Meron, Israel. AFP
Emergency workers gather at the scene after dozens of people were killed and others injured at the Lag BaOmer festival at Mount Meron, Israel. AFP
Medics and rescue workers attend to victims at the Lag BaOmer event in Mount Meron, northern Israel. Reuters
Medics and rescue workers attend to victims at the Lag BaOmer event in Mount Meron, northern Israel. Reuters

At the entrance to Mount Meron, new barriers have been set up which leave a central channel for the emergency services to reach worshippers in distress.

The location where the deadly crush occurred, on concrete steps between high barriers, has been sealed off.

For Mr Halabi, who heads MDA’s first responders unit across Israel, the landscape of the site is a key challenge for rescuers.

“You can’t change the topography, so if something serious happens you don’t have a lot of options to evacuate or to bring a lot of ambulances here,” he said.

Paramedics can use smaller vehicles to get through small paths and have set up treatment centres across the site, as well as a field hospital in case of mass casualties.

Some worshippers were already gathered at the site before the Lag BaOmer celebrations, praying near the tomb of 2nd-century Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

In addition to the annual events, which continue on Thursday, a separate area has been set up for a memorial service to those who died last year.

Many of the first responders on the scene last year have returned to Mount Meron this year.

“They want to be here again. It’s important for them, because they saved lives last year,” said Mr Halabi.

Key facilities
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Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.

Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.

 Ben Okri,

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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

Updated: May 19, 2022, 5:04 AM`
Israel