Lag B'Omer in Tzfat

Calender of Events

As of May 2024, Lag B'Omer festivities in Meron have been cancelled by Israel's security forces. There will be small events in Tzfat which will be posted here as information becomes available.

History

Last year entrance to Meron for Lag B'Omer was ONLY through the purchase of tickets. Updated information for Lag B'Omer 2024 will be added here as it becomes available.

Private vehicles are not allowed to travel to Meron on Lag B'Omer or on the days immediately preceeding or suceeding. The best option is to come by bus. Buses run to and from Tzfat every 15 minutes throughout the day. (A full account of traffic arrangements from the Israel Police can be found below)

Lag

According to Jewish tradition, the 49 days that separated the Exodus from Egypt (Pesach/Passover) and the Giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai (Shavouth) is a solemn time in the Jewish calendar. It is referred to as the "Sephirat HaOmer" -- counting of the Omer, and is an important time of Kabbalistic meaning. Observant Jews count each day of the Omer and observe a number of mourning traditions, including refraining from cutting hair, hearing music and celebrating weddings and other festive occasions.

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, one of the redactors of the Talmud and, according to Jewish belief, the writer of the basic book of Kabbalah -- The Zohar -- died on "Lag B'Omer," the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer. From early times, Jews combined his memory by combining the anniversary of his passing with a mini-holiday that commemorated the end of a plague amongst the students of another Talmudic sage, Rabbi Akiva. This day served as a "break" in the Omer and activities that were prohibited otherwise during the Counting of the Omer were permitted on Lag B'Omer.

Special Lag B'Omer Learning at Alsheich Synagogue

Safed and Lag B'Omer

General Information

* The arrival of the celebration will be permitted only by public transport and organized transportation.

*Organized transportation from Tzfat to Meron will leave from the Central Bus Station, Lochamei Getaot neighborhood (under Agamim School), Maor Haim neighborhood, and the entrance to Nof Kinneret.

* Public transportation throughout the country leading north and Miron in particular will be significantly enhanced in order to allow the guests to arrive comfortably and safely to the compound itself.

* The Israel Railways will operate as far as the Karmiel station according to the regular timetable of the Israel Railways, and from there continue to Meron via paid public transportation.

* Downloading and gathering of celebrants who arrive by public transportation, will be carried out near the site at regular intervals.

It is hereby clarified that travel by public transportation will bring the celebrants to the site of the revelations safely, quickly and with maximum comfort.

For passengers on public transportation, refreshment stations were set up on Route 6 - "Alonit", on Route 722 - Hashomrim Junction and on Route 90 - Bezeq Checkpoint.

Buses of private transportation companies will be directed to the parking lots in Ein Hozim Tivon and Pardot. From there, the celebrants will be transported to the site through free shuttle service.

* The parking lots and pedestrian routes leading to them will continue to be marked in accordance with the color of the ticket, in order to make it easier for the celebrants to arrive at the site and leave. The colors are: red, yellow, blue and green - the color of the new terminal (Terminal 89) established for the benefit of the celebrants.

* At every stage during the celebration, it is absolutely forbidden for the celebrants to walk on the roads leading to the site for fear of endangering their lives.

It is very important to convey messages and emphasis to the public of the road users and to the public of celebrants even before the event.

* It will not be possible to arrive at and near the Hillula compound, in private vehicles throughout the main stage of the event as mentioned above. There is no point in trying to get around the checkpoints because a large force of police from the traffic system will spread along the traffic arteries and the dirt roads leading to Meron.
* We will emphasize that private vehicles will not be allowed to park in open areas and on the sides of the road. Vehicles parked illegally, in contravention of the regulations, will be towed and their owners will bear the towing costs.

* The following routes will be blocked for private vehicles as of Wednesday, May 2, 18:00, until the end of the event: *

Route 866 - From Hanania junction towards Meron.
Highway 89 - From the Hiram junction to the Eliflet interchange, in both directions (via the Gush Halav junction).
Route 886 - From Dalton Junction to Ein Zeitim Square.
Route 8900 - From the forest junction of Biriya to Ein Zeitim Square.
Entrance or exit from Safed will be possible via road 8900, only from Rosh Pina (driving on road 89 will be possible only to the east of the Eliflet junction).*

* In addition, the public of road users must take into account that, as necessary, during the days of the Hillula there is a possibility of blocking the following interurban routes:

Road 65 - From Tzalmon to Kadarim (according to need).
Road 85 - From Rama Junction to Amiad Junction, in both directions (as needed).

Hundreds of policemen will be deployed on routes leading to Meron in order to provide service to road users and the public.

* Drivers must be patient and obey the instructions and instructions of the police. *

Beit Abu Torah Parade Friday Afternoon

191 years of tradition The Torah parade from Beit Abu will take place Friday May 24 2024. Starting at 11 am with a free tour, 12:15 pm Klezmer concert, 1 pm opening ceremony, 2:30 the parade begins through the Old City, 5:30 closing ceremony at Kikar Daniel (by the central bus station).

Shabbat Talk Artist Quarter Minyan, Tet Vav St. 45

Artist Quarter/Old City Event Sat. Night

Red Khan Saturday Night Event

Things to Do in Tzfat

Art workshops, outdoor activities and much more. Some things to do in Tzfat before, during and after the Lag B'Omer Festivities

Accommodations

www.beityosef.co.il

There are
accommodations in Safed to match any budget if you want to stay in the city overnight. Many people come to Safed to experience the Lag B'Omer festivities in Safed before heading to Meron at night or the next morning.

Lag B'Omer Transportation

When the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Isaac Luria, came to Tzfat in 1570, he instituted a number of new customs that linked Jewish mysticism with conventional Jewish rituals, among them a Lag B'Omer pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Tsfat, located a 4-hour walk from the tomb of the "Rashbi," was the logical point from which pilgrims would set off on their pilgrimage. Since the 16th century, Tsfat and Lag B'Omer have been intertwined.

Today, by virtue of a Knesset law, formal celebrations for Lag B'Omer begin with the Torah procession that begins in Tzfat's Kikar Abu erev (the day before) Lag B'Omer (scroll down for more details).

Buses run between Tsfat and Meron every 15 minutes throughout Lag B'Omer night (Saturday night) and into the next day (Sunday). The buses to Mt. Meron leave from the Central Bus Station and return to the bus station. You can come to Tzfat and take a bus from Tzfat to Meron or you can book a seat on the Nateeve Express bus line from other areas of the country (for phone information, call *3353). More information about Tsfat transportation can be found here.

Hiking

Hike
If you would like to walk to Meron from Safed, you can walk the Wadi Amud trail that begins below the Safed cemetery. The trail takes approximately 4 hours to complete and brings you to the grave of the Rashbi (Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai). Hikers are advised to bring several liters of water with them as they walk the trail. The trail is a popular one and, especially during the spring, one of Israel's most beautiful nature sites.