Marking one year since the devastating tragedy that took the lives of 45 Yidden at Meron last Lag B’Omer, an emotional memorial event took place near the location of the tragedy. The Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Arba, Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Diskin, made a Siyum Harambam at the memorial, as per the Rebbe’s directive. Photos by Chaim Tuito • Photos

Almost 60,000 tickets Meron on Lag B’Omer were sold only hours after ticket sales opened on Sunday evening. The ticket sales had a rocky start when the site collapsed about a half-hour after registration opened. It began operating again just a few minutes later and 48,000 tickets were sold two hours after opening • Full Story

Eight months after the horrific Meron disaster and following many delays, the government is advancing a compensation plan for the families of the Meron victims • Full Story

Earlier this week, the Va’adas HaChamisha sent a letter to the Religious Affairs Ministry explaining that since the Meron disaster no insurance companies will agree to secure the site, putting the members of the committee at risk of personal liability suits and forcing them to close the site unless a solution can be found. However, the letter backfired because instead of prompting the government to find a solution for the insurance coverage, it instead threatened to take over the site’s management. In the wake of the government’s threat, the Va’adas HaChamisha responded on Thursday that it is suspending the closure of the site • Full Story

From this coming Thursday the directors of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi) in Meron will be closing the site to visitors, since no insurer is currently willingly to provide insurance for potential damages to visitors, according to a Ynet report • Full Story

Two yeshivah bochurim testified to the state commission of inquiry in the Meron disaster on Sunday. Michoel Shimon Friedman was in the “passageway of death” during those terrible moments on the night of the disaster. “Suddenly you couldn’t get out because everyone was pushing you,” he said • Full Story