Lag B’Omer In Israel: Bonfires In Public Places And Courtyards- Prohibited, Special Lightings In Meron

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The upcoming holiday of Lag Ba’Omer has led to new arrangements both in Meron, which normally sees over half a million visitors but this year will only have a select group of people from each denomination, as well as in the rest of the country where public bonfires will be prohibited. The health ministry has even prohibited private bonfires in courtyards due to fear of crowding and infection and also due to the danger of conflagarations. However there will not be a lockdown and people will be allowed to travel freely around the country.

Three bonfires will be lit at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. One for Ashkenazi Jews will be lit as traditionally by the Rabbi of Boyan, one for Sephardi Jews which will be lit by the Sephardic chief rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar and one for the Religious-Zionist community which will by lit by Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the head of the Or Etzion yeshiva. The number of people attending each lighting will be a maximum of 40 people and these will be registered beforehand with police and will be allowed to enter on presenting their ID.