Remembrances and memories from relatives and friends The following are brief obituary profiles and remembrances of the 45 lives that were lost on Lag BaOmer at the resting place of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai in Meron, Israel. Readers are invited to include additional recollections in the response box following this article. May their memories be […]

Teens help seniors struggling to secure Covid vaccine France launched its COVID vaccine to a rocky start. Shortages and delivery issues, the suspension of AstraZeneca shots, and mandatory pre-vaccination consultations contributed to a slow, frustrating rollout. Seniors wanting to be vaccinated must book an appointment on an online portal, where the limited number of slots […]

The village of Kfar Chabad was established 72 years ago today. The Chabad village of Kfar Chabad, located about 5 miles south of Tel Aviv, was established on the 21st of Iyar in 1949 by the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of blessed memory.  In 1946, many Chabad Jews had fled Russia and […]

Impromptu memorial at the Kotel drew thousands of students from around Israel In the last known photo taken of Donny Morris, 19, of Bergenfield, N.J., he was standing among thousands of Jews and smiling as he was celebrating Lag BaOmer. The smile and joy in his face were not only genuine, but a reflection of […]

As night fell on Thursday, and Lag BaOmer spread its joyous light throughout Israel, Rabbi Shimon Matalon shared an envelope with a friend, instructing him not to open it until Sunday. Later that night, Shimon was among the 45 men and boys who lost their lives in the tragic crowding in Meron. As revealed by […]

A native of New Square, N.Y., had musical virtuosity and a heartfelt voice Shraga Eliyahu (Shragee) Gestetner of Monsey, N.Y., was among the 45 pilgrims who lost their lives on April 30 in the midst of celebrating Lag BaOmer at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai on Mount Meron, Israel. He was 34 years […]

Widespread mourning and good deeds in honor of those who passed; 16 injured remain hospitalized JERUSALEM—The grim and mournful task of identifying and laying to rest the victims of the tragedy in Meron on Lag BaOmer in which 45 people died, were completed on Monday. Thousands of mourners attended funerals around the country, with especially […]

Statement By Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky The world Jewish community is reeling from the tragedy that occurred last night, on the eve of Lag B’omer, at Mt. Meron, in the Holy Land of Israel.  We mourn and grieve the loss of so many lives, which took place at this joyous, historic event. Our hearts are with the […]

Adults and children among the deceased The identification of the victims of the Meron tragedy concluded after Shabbat, and authorities released a complete list of the deceased. Ariel Ahdut, 21; a student at Yesodot HaTorah yeshivah in Tel Aviv. Rabbi Yisrael Alnakvah, 24, of Beit Shemesh; a father of two. Avrohom Daniel Ambon, 21, of […]

In Peabody, delivering the joy of Judaism during tough times for many As the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to spread through North America a year ago, Rabbi Nechemia and Raizel Schusterman were starting to plan for their 18th year of service to the Jewish community of Peabody, Mass. Located in the state’s North Shore region—known […]