Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

At least 45 people dead in stampede at mass Lag b'Omer holiday celebration in Israel

(JTA) - At least 45 people were crushed to death and at least 150 wounded Thursday night in a stampede during a celebration that drew tens of thousands of haredi Orthodox Jews to the northern Israeli mountain village of Meron.

Meron is home to the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, an ancient sage associated with the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer, which began Thursday night. More than 100,000 people had reportedly traveled to the town, in the largest gathering in Israel since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stampede appears to be the worst civil disaster in Israel's history, with a death...

 

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