There are some simple truths that were clear before the horrific Lag Ba’Omer disaster on Mt. Meron, in which 45 Israelis were killed, and many more injured. But these realities will only receive increased attention after this tragedy.
The first, simple truth: The site in Meron is not large and cannot grow. Not much. It is a site of known size, with occupancy limited. But while the site remains limited in size, the population seeking to visit it is growing at a dizzying rate. That was evident on Thursday, when a sea of worshippers gathered at the foot of Mt. Meron in northern Israel to mark Lag Ba’Omer and visit the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
These visitors are mainly ultra-Orthodox, whose birthrate increases their number in each generation. Because a tradition of “aliyah” to Meron has been created, and because this norm brings more people in each generation to a place that remains the same size, the density increases and, with it, the level of risk. Near the Kaaba stone in Mecca, even more visitors are received every year. There, too, there are disasters from time to time, for the same reason and in the same way.
The Meron custom is similar to the bonfire custom. As I wrote a few days ago (in Hebrew), a country of three million people could accommodate the bonfires of all children. A country of ten million people may find it difficult to breathe if everyone continues to light a bonfire. In the context of bonfires, it is evident that this new reality has been internalized in certain cities but not in others. In Tel Aviv, overall, there was not much fire. Jerusalem, on the other hand, was filled with bonfires.
This happens, among other things, because the religious (especially the ultra-Orthodox public) have a built-in difficulty in adapting to rapid changes that threaten old traditions. Change is contrary to the ultra-Orthodox DNA, which seeks to preserve old traditions. And what is true of bonfires is also true of Mt. Meron. It is essential to manage the Meron custom at a safe level. There is no way to sustain it at its current level without risking more tragedies. But it is very difficult for the ultra-Orthodox public to stop these customs.
How many ultra-Orthodox come to Meron every year? At the #IsraeliJudaism project of the Jewish People Policy Institute, we did the math. It’s not complicated. Fourteen percent of Jewish Israelis say they go to Meron on Lag B’Omer when they can. That’s about a million people. In practice, not everyone comes every year. About half of that number do.
But what is interesting is the fact that two-thirds of those who define themselves as ultra-Orthodox say they go to Meron, and another third define themselves as “Dati Torani” (Zionist Haredi). This means that there is a norm of attending in a population whose birth rate is very high. So if a million want to go to Meron today, in a few years there will be a million and two hundred thousand, then a million and a half, then two million. And the site remains the same size. The custom remains the same custom. Disaster is only a matter of time.
The custom remains the same custom. Disaster is only a matter of time.
It is easy to blame the police for this incident, and it seems to be what many are doing. Why, people ask, did the police not prepare, why it did not make sure that the site is safe, why did it not alert the public? The answer is simple: The police find it difficult to deal with the ultra-Orthodox public, who generally do as they please and are backed by political forces. This was evident during the pandemic, when the police had trouble enforcing the law in areas influenced by rabbinical powers.
This lack of police power over the ultra-Orthodox was also evident in Meron. Last year infiltrators came to Meron when it was closed due to the pandemic. This year, a plan to restrict visitor entry faded as if it did not exist. The Ministry of Health wanted no more than ten thousand people on the site; it was unceremoniously rejected. Ultra-Orthodox politicians wanted more people, and they got what they wante. (Of course, not because they wanted a tragedy to happen. And people weren’t crushed by large crowds because of the coronavirus limits.)
Still, such conduct symbolizes what happens when someone tries to impose a restriction on a tradition the ultra-Orthodox want preserved. The institutions say no, the ultra-Orthodox leaders say yes, and the ultra-Orthodox leaders win. This affects the police, who naturally put in less effort because there is no point in even trying to keep law and order with this public.
Still, such conduct symbolizes what happens when someone tries to impose a restriction on a tradition the ultra-Orthodox want preserved. The institutions say no, the ultra-Orthodox leaders say yes, and the ultra-Orthodox leaders usually win. This affects the police, who naturally put in less effort because there is no point in even trying to keep law and order with this reticent public.
There are all kinds of solutions to the problem in Meron. There can be increased police enforcement to prevent overentry. There can be more construction on the site to accommodate additional visitors. The only problem is that political and social pressures allow the ultra-Orthodox to do what they want, and no matter how much construction is added, there is a limit to the capacity of Mt. Meron.
There can also be an attempt to change the custom to increase safety. Maybe instead of a whole night, authorities could limit people to a short visit, a peek into the grave, and then usher them to another place for the rest of the night. There could be an attempt to extend the visit from one day to a whole week.
Solutions can be found, but they require adjustments and updates. They necessitate recognition that what once was is not what will be. And these solutions oblige ultra-Orthodox leaders to allow the police to do their job without complaining about discrimination. They require an understanding of the magnitude of the danger.
Sadly, that understanding of danger is what probably happened last night. As in many previous instances, we needed a disaster to teach us a lesson.
Shmuel Rosner is an Israeli columnist, editor, and researcher. He is the editor of the research and data-journalism website themadad.com and is the political editor of the Jewish Journal.
The Meron Tragedy: When Tradition Meets a Changing Reality
Shmuel Rosner
There are some simple truths that were clear before the horrific Lag Ba’Omer disaster on Mt. Meron, in which 45 Israelis were killed, and many more injured. But these realities will only receive increased attention after this tragedy.
The first, simple truth: The site in Meron is not large and cannot grow. Not much. It is a site of known size, with occupancy limited. But while the site remains limited in size, the population seeking to visit it is growing at a dizzying rate. That was evident on Thursday, when a sea of worshippers gathered at the foot of Mt. Meron in northern Israel to mark Lag Ba’Omer and visit the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
These visitors are mainly ultra-Orthodox, whose birthrate increases their number in each generation. Because a tradition of “aliyah” to Meron has been created, and because this norm brings more people in each generation to a place that remains the same size, the density increases and, with it, the level of risk. Near the Kaaba stone in Mecca, even more visitors are received every year. There, too, there are disasters from time to time, for the same reason and in the same way.
The Meron custom is similar to the bonfire custom. As I wrote a few days ago (in Hebrew), a country of three million people could accommodate the bonfires of all children. A country of ten million people may find it difficult to breathe if everyone continues to light a bonfire. In the context of bonfires, it is evident that this new reality has been internalized in certain cities but not in others. In Tel Aviv, overall, there was not much fire. Jerusalem, on the other hand, was filled with bonfires.
This happens, among other things, because the religious (especially the ultra-Orthodox public) have a built-in difficulty in adapting to rapid changes that threaten old traditions. Change is contrary to the ultra-Orthodox DNA, which seeks to preserve old traditions. And what is true of bonfires is also true of Mt. Meron. It is essential to manage the Meron custom at a safe level. There is no way to sustain it at its current level without risking more tragedies. But it is very difficult for the ultra-Orthodox public to stop these customs.
How many ultra-Orthodox come to Meron every year? At the #IsraeliJudaism project of the Jewish People Policy Institute, we did the math. It’s not complicated. Fourteen percent of Jewish Israelis say they go to Meron on Lag B’Omer when they can. That’s about a million people. In practice, not everyone comes every year. About half of that number do.
But what is interesting is the fact that two-thirds of those who define themselves as ultra-Orthodox say they go to Meron, and another third define themselves as “Dati Torani” (Zionist Haredi). This means that there is a norm of attending in a population whose birth rate is very high. So if a million want to go to Meron today, in a few years there will be a million and two hundred thousand, then a million and a half, then two million. And the site remains the same size. The custom remains the same custom. Disaster is only a matter of time.
It is easy to blame the police for this incident, and it seems to be what many are doing. Why, people ask, did the police not prepare, why it did not make sure that the site is safe, why did it not alert the public? The answer is simple: The police find it difficult to deal with the ultra-Orthodox public, who generally do as they please and are backed by political forces. This was evident during the pandemic, when the police had trouble enforcing the law in areas influenced by rabbinical powers.
This lack of police power over the ultra-Orthodox was also evident in Meron. Last year infiltrators came to Meron when it was closed due to the pandemic. This year, a plan to restrict visitor entry faded as if it did not exist. The Ministry of Health wanted no more than ten thousand people on the site; it was unceremoniously rejected. Ultra-Orthodox politicians wanted more people, and they got what they wante. (Of course, not because they wanted a tragedy to happen. And people weren’t crushed by large crowds because of the coronavirus limits.)
Still, such conduct symbolizes what happens when someone tries to impose a restriction on a tradition the ultra-Orthodox want preserved. The institutions say no, the ultra-Orthodox leaders say yes, and the ultra-Orthodox leaders win. This affects the police, who naturally put in less effort because there is no point in even trying to keep law and order with this public.
Still, such conduct symbolizes what happens when someone tries to impose a restriction on a tradition the ultra-Orthodox want preserved. The institutions say no, the ultra-Orthodox leaders say yes, and the ultra-Orthodox leaders usually win. This affects the police, who naturally put in less effort because there is no point in even trying to keep law and order with this reticent public.
There are all kinds of solutions to the problem in Meron. There can be increased police enforcement to prevent overentry. There can be more construction on the site to accommodate additional visitors. The only problem is that political and social pressures allow the ultra-Orthodox to do what they want, and no matter how much construction is added, there is a limit to the capacity of Mt. Meron.
There can also be an attempt to change the custom to increase safety. Maybe instead of a whole night, authorities could limit people to a short visit, a peek into the grave, and then usher them to another place for the rest of the night. There could be an attempt to extend the visit from one day to a whole week.
Solutions can be found, but they require adjustments and updates. They necessitate recognition that what once was is not what will be. And these solutions oblige ultra-Orthodox leaders to allow the police to do their job without complaining about discrimination. They require an understanding of the magnitude of the danger.
Sadly, that understanding of danger is what probably happened last night. As in many previous instances, we needed a disaster to teach us a lesson.
Shmuel Rosner is an Israeli columnist, editor, and researcher. He is the editor of the research and data-journalism website themadad.com and is the political editor of the Jewish Journal.
Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
Editor's Picks
Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review
The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Latest Articles
Ancient Crave-worthy Wisdom in Greek and Biblical Literature
Phil Rosenthal’s Latest Children’s Book Encourages Kids to ‘Just Try It!’
Marking BCI’s 85th Anniversary, Jewish Leaders Reflect on a Program That Shaped Their Lives
Mandana Dayani at JFSLA: ‘The Spirit of Humanity Is the Choice to Show Up When It’s Hard’
From Beverly Hills to Capitol Hill: Three American Jews Honored
Alone No More: How Aliyah Became a Lifeline for LiAmi Lawrence
True Legends and a Smoked Brisket
This week we share our column with one of our favorite Instagram bloggers, New Yorker Jeff Mosczyc (pronounced Mah-zik). As the son of a German immigrant father and a first-generation Hungarian mother, his mouthwatering, meat-centric recipes reflect his Ashkenazi background.
Father’s Day Food
This year’s Father’s Day round-up features recipes from different ends of the Jewish spectrum: dill pickle kraut and a Moroccan tomato dip.
Table for Five: Korach
Challenging Moses
Trump’s Surrender to Iran is Evident in First Sentence of Ceasefire Deal
Trump may have the bluster, but the mullahs know they hold the cards.
What Will Bibi Do?
With the U.S. and Iran signing a ceasefire deal that limits Israel’s options, the Israeli prime minister is facing a most difficult moment during an election year.
Don’t Forget the People: The Iran Ceasefire Must Protect Civilians
As details emerge about a signed agreement between the United States and Iran, there still may be room to protect the Persian people from Tehran’s despots, the Lebanese from Hezbollah, Yemenis from the Houthis and Gazans from Hamas.
A Holocaust-Era Heroine for the Ages in ‘The Goddess of Warsaw’
In “The Goddess of Warsaw,” our hero is Lena Browning, an aging Hollywood starlet who has similar credentials to Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford and Jane Mansfield.
Trump’s Civilizational Moment
It all depends on one mercurial and imperfect man in the White House. But whether he succeeds or fails, he is leading a free world, much of which no longer understands what it needs to do to survive.
Trump’s New Iran Deal Leaves Israel to Confront Old Dangers Alone
Now Israel watches as its closest friend prepares to hand billions of dollars to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It sees the nuclear issue endlessly discussed but still unresolved, and Lebanon left hanging in uncertainty.
When ‘Peace’ Breaks Out
Ultimately, although he presented himself as a disruptor, Trump remains captive to the conceptual frameworks, values and norms of Western societies, which place them at a disadvantage in the current clash of civilizations.
Benjamin Franklin, Korah, and the Battle for the Constitution
Just as Moses and Aaron had proven their God-approved mettle, “the new federal constitution,” which, in Franklin’s view, had “been unreasonably and vehemently opposed,” would ultimately prevail by God’s grace.
We Need a Long-Term Strategy to Deal with Iran
In handing Tehran the keys to lock up the region without a fight, Trump would become the first American president to sign away his country’s right to ply international waters freely.
Hope Is Not a Foreign Policy
The “deal,” as far as is known right now, is simply a 60-day extension of the ceasefire. The can will be kicked down the road.
A Heavenly Service
During these days when it is so easy to succumb to despair, religious services can serve as a wonderful antidote to hopelessness. Especially this one.
What My Soul Knows Before I Do
Sometimes the soul arrives before the explanation does. And sometimes, just before dawn, the world becomes quiet enough for us to notice the first light.
Jewish Caucus Stands Up
One of the best-kept secrets in California politics is the effectiveness and growing influence of the Legislative Jewish Caucus.
The ‘On’ Button. You Can Only Get There from the ‘Off ‘Button.
AZM’s Herbert Block on Staying Proudly Zionist in a Difficult Time
Despite the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist sentiment poisoning so many institutions and people, Herbert Block, executive director of the American Zionist Movement, is optimistic about the Jewish community’s response it.
Did Trump and Bibi Lose to a Strait Flush?
There’s no bigger sign of failure than to consider a return to the status quo at Hormuz a “great deal.” Never mind that Iran will no doubt use the Strait as leverage in the future.
Pasadena Magazine: Sailing Tahiti in Style on Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.