The back story of the Relationship of Rebbe Akiva and Bar Kochba!

 

 Just seven miles from my home in Beit Shemesh lies Churvat Itri — חורבת עתרי, a fascinating archaeological site.

Among its remains are the ruins of a Jewish village from the Second Beis HaMikdash period — including a shul and several mikva’ot.

But what makes this site especially remarkable is that it contains underground hideouts from the Bar Kochba revolt. Many such hideouts have been discovered across the region, but this one is practically in my backyard.

And that leads to a bigger question:

What exactly was the relationship between Bar Kochba and Rabbi Akiva?

First let's talk about Bar-Kochba!

In the early 1960s, archaeologist Yigal Yadin uncovered a collection of 14 letters written during the Bar Kochba revolt (132–136 CE). Some were in Hebrew, some in Aramaic, and some in Greek. Alongside them were about 70 documents belonging to a woman named Babatha, which together provide a vivid picture of the period.

Interestingly, these letters refer to Bar Kochba as בר כוסבה — Bar Kosva, which seems to have been his actual name. Those who learned Sanhedrin 93b will recall that Chazal call him Bar Koziva, meaning “the false one.”

From the letters, we see that Bar Kochba was a strong, disciplined leader and a capable administrator. His authority was widely accepted. On the coins he minted, he even referred to himself as “Nasi Yisrael.”

It’s also clear that not all Jewish communities joined the revolt. The Galilee abstained, and so did the people of Tekoa. In fact, three of Bar Kochba’s letters threaten Tekoa’s commanders, demanding they force the local men to enlist — a dynamic that feels surprisingly familiar.

Let's talk about Rebbe Akiva

The Rambam writes in Hilchos Melachim that Rabbi Akiva was second only to Moshe Rabbeinu in Torah greatness. The Gemara in Menachos 29 even describes Moshe Rabbeinu marveling at Rabbi Akiva’s brilliance.

"You have a person like him and you choose to give the Torah through me?"

Rabbi Akiva began learning Torah at age 40, rose to become the Rosh Yeshiva of thousands, and ultimately gave his life al kiddush Hashem under Roman persecution. His neshama was so bound to Torah that any anonymous Mishnah is attributed to him.

But Rabbi Akiva was not only a giant in Torah. The Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 11:3) writes that Rabbi Akiva was

נושא כליו של בר כוכבא — literally, “the arms‑bearer of Bar Kochba.”

He believed that Bar Kochba fulfilled the pasuk “דרך כוכב מיעקב” — a star will emerge from Yaakov. Hence the name Bar Kochba, “son of the star.”

The Rambam writes:

שֶׁהֲרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא חָכָם גָּדוֹל מֵחַכְמֵי מִשְׁנָה הָיָה. וְהוּא הָיָה נוֹשֵׂא כֵּלָיו שֶׁל בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא הַמֶּלֶךְ. וְהוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר עָלָיו שֶׁהוּא הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. וְדִמָּה הוּא וְכָל חַכְמֵי דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁהוּא הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. עַד שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג בַּעֲוֹנוֹת. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג נוֹדַע לָהֶם שֶׁאֵינוֹ. וְלֹא שָׁאֲלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ חֲכָמִים לֹא אוֹת וְלֹא מוֹפֵת.

Rebbe Akiva thought and held the view that Bar Kochba was Moshiach!

Correcting a Common Misconception

Many secular historians — and even some in the frum world — try to separate Bar Kochba’s fighters from Rabbi Akiva and his students. They claim the soldiers were not Torah‑observant or connected to the spiritual leadership of the time.

This is simply not true.

The letters discovered by Yadin show soldiers concerned about kashrus, shatnez, and halachic observance. Rabbi Akiva’s talmidim were holy, devoted Torah scholars — and they supported the national struggle for independence.

Anyone who claims Rabbi Akiva fought Roman decrees on Torah study while being disconnected from the national uprising is contradicting the Rambam himself. Rabbi Akiva was actively involved in the revolt. He believed in Bar Kochba. He believed in Jewish sovereignty. He believed in the possibility of redemption.

A Lesson for Today

Bar Kochba was not known for his piety or spiritual refinement. Many rabbis of the time opposed Rabbi Akiva’s support for him. They argued — much like some do today — that the army was too secular, that Bar Kochba didn’t meet their standards, that he wasn’t “one of them.”

Rabbi Akiva saw something different. He saw Bar Kochba’s mesiras nefesh for Am Yisrael. He saw a leader capable of uniting warriors and inspiring a national revival. And that is why he believed Bar Kochba could be Moshiach — despite the opposition.

Chazal teach that the only reason we know Bar Kochba was not Moshiach is because he died. 

Moshiach will not die; he will succeed.  

Lag B'Omer celebration in Meron - canceled: Police close the mountain, set up checkpoints and warn extremists

 

The Israel Police officially announces the cancellation of the Rashbi celebration on Lag B'Omer in Meron, and the deployment of police forces alongside increased alert on all roads leading to Meron - including in the forests • Entry to Meron will be allowed only to residents of the community or registered guests • The police warn that it will adopt zero tolerance for violence against police officers 

Police forces, Border Police fighters and Traffic Division officers have been deployed since the end of the week on all roads leading to the settlement of Meron and the surrounding areas. The forces will prevent the entry of vehicles and pedestrians until May 6, 2026, when entry will be permitted only to residents of the community or to those staying in a pre-registered B&B.

Extensive roadblocking starting today

As of today, 03 May 2026, a number of main arteries have been closed to traffic: Route 89 at Ein Zeitim Square, Route 866 at the Parod Junction, Route 89 at the Gush Halav (Jish) Junction, and Route 89 at the Safsufa Junction.

Starting Monday, 04.05.26, at 06:00, until Wednesday, 06.05.26, at 06:00, additional routes will be completely blocked. For those coming from the direction of Elifelet, Route 89 will be blocked in Elifelet, Safed Square and Ein Zeitim Square. For those coming from the area of Route 85 (Hananya), Hananya Junction will be blocked to Route 866, Parod Junction and Shamai Junction in the direction of Meron.

For those coming from the direction of Hiram to Meron, Route 89 will be blocked at the Hiram Junction, at the Gush Halav (Jish) Junction and the Regional Council Junction, as well as Route 886 from Dalton in the direction of Ein Zeitim and Route 866 from Dalton to Gush Halav Square.

What's Up with Modiin Illit: Another Sexual Assault ! Released prisoner arrested on suspicion of brutal assault of a minor in a synagogue

 

A former prisoner developed a halachic dialogue with a minor in a shul in Modi'in Illit. After he gained his trust, he brutally attacked him in the bathroom!

The detention of a suspect in the aggravated assault of a minor in Modi'in Illit was extended in court until tomorrow, after a prosecutor's statement of intention to file an indictment and a request for his detention until the end of the proceedings was filed against him.

The suspect, a resident of the city who had been arrested in the past on suspicion of other assaults, violated the conditions of this parole, which included a ban on entering any shuls.

According to the report, the attack took place several weeks ago during Shabbos morning, when the suspect and the victim were in the shul. 

Immediately upon receiving the attack details from the minor's parents, investigators from the Modiin Illit station began investigating the case, while testimony was taken before professionals due to the victim's young age.

The findings of the investigation reveal a particularly disturbing picture. It is suspected that during that Shabbat – before, during, and after the morning prayers – the suspect, a former prisoner, developed a dialogue with the minor on halachic matters. Thus, slowly, he gained the boy's trust and later attacked him in a toilet cubicle near the synagogue.

Among other things, apart from the serious criminal act, the suspect violated the conditions of his parole, which included a prohibition on entering the shul, conditions and restrictions of which he was well aware. It should be noted that the suspect was arrested in the past on suspicion of similar assaults, which raises serious concerns among law enforcement officials.

About a week and a half ago, during a detective activity by a youth division from the Modi'in Illit station and with the assistance of the Inspector of the Tzur Unit of the IPS, the suspect was located and arrested for police interrogation. His detention was extended at the request of interrogators from the Family Division from time to time, and during his interrogation period, evidence, testimonies and findings were formulated in connection with his actions.

Nachum Yisrael Eber found murdered in Colombia was looking for new bride after his marriage to teenager failed

 The Brooklyn Orthodox man brutally murdered in Colombia was reeling from the end of his one-month marriage to a teen bride — and was desperately looking for a new love when he was killed.

The body of Nachum Israel Eber was found dismembered inside a bloody wardrobe that was dumped on a street in Bogota on Sunday.

Yosef Matheron, a Colombian man who befriended Eber and helped translate for him, told The Post how Eber had met his 18-year-old wife before the brief union unraveled in January.

Eber, 51, a member of the Boro Park Belz Hasidic community, went to South America to search for a bride after divorcing his first wife five or six years ago. They shared four kids and two grandchildren.

Eber searched far and wide for a new bride, working with matchmakers in New York and Ukraine, before setting his sights on Colombia, his best friend said.

The divorcee was drawn to the country because he knew a rabbi from his community who would travel there and help descendants of Spanish Inquisition exiles convert to Judaism.

“He mentioned that he was exploring the possibility of meeting someone to marry, and eventually he made a match,” Matheron said.

Eber met the much younger woman in Barranquilla and thought she was 20 years old, the pal said.

Matheron said he spent a lot of time with the pair, and he would often accompany them on dates to get ice cream.

“They were a religious couple, a very wholesome couple,” he said, “He didn’t drink alcohol, he didn’t use drugs, he was a religious man.”

The two were married in a ceremony in Barranquilla, and a dinner celebrating the union was held in Bogota, he said.

But it turns out his new in-laws lied about their daughter’s age — she was really 18, and was getting cold feet.

“The young woman eventually broke up with him, though mostly because she told him she didn’t feel ready — she felt she was too young and believed she had rushed into taking that step. But it was never something she was forced to do,” Matheron said of the marriage.

He told Eber, who was depressed after the January split, to go home to the Big Apple and recover.

But Eber was determined to stay in Colombia until he found a wife.

“It’s very hard to live alone in our community. Everyone lives with their families and has children in the house,” his friend from Brooklyn said.

Bad luck seemed to follow the “high-strung, nervous” Eber, Matheron said.

“I decided to stop traveling with Nachum, as I had already encountered several security issues. I was being robbed frequently in the places we stayed, though I couldn’t figure out why,” he said.

Eber may have made himself a target for a “paseo millionairo” attack — where robbers stalk a potential victim for days — by doing things foreigners shouldn’t, like walking around with his cell phone in his hand, Matheron theorized.

“I’d tell him: ‘Nachum, this isn’t New York.’ He would start speaking Yiddish, Hebrew, and English right out in the open. He drew attention to himself, because of his distinctive attire and the various languages ​​he spoke,” he said.

The murder victim was described by his friend as a loving father and grandfather who would do anything for his family.

“During COVID he traveled to Cleveland and took care of his sick father for 100 days straight, that’s the kind of person he was,” his friend said.

Eber’s Brooklyn friend spoke to him April 21, the last day he was seen alive, and said Eber was optimistic.

His body was found Wednesday, and local police are investigating.

“He came to Colombia to find a wife, then, his dreams went cold,” Eber’s Brooklyn friend said.

Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas" Killed Spirit Airlines Tonight!

 

Spirit Airlines died tonight at the hands of the socialist crusader, Elizabeth Warren

She must be so proud to add another casket to her achievements.

Tonight at 3am, Spirit turns off the lights. 14,000 jobs gone. 30+ smaller airports lose service.

JetBlue offered $3.8 BILLION in cash to buy Spirit in 2022. Shareholders, flight attendants union, literally everyone voted yes. 

The combined company would have held 9% of the US market against a Big 4 that already owned 80%. For anyone who understands numbers: 9% isn’t a monopoly against 80%.

Warren said no.

She wrote letters. She pressured Buttigieg. Biden’s DOJ sued. A federal judge killed the deal in January 2024. Her argument: the merger would cost consumers $1 billion a year.

Now look at her collateral damage she dusts under the rug. 510 pilots gone in the months after. 1,800 flight attendants furloughed in December. 

14,000 jobs in 2023. 7,500 last week. Zero tonight.

And that’s just the people in Spirit uniforms.

Catering goes. Fuel guys go. Baggage crews, gate agents, airport coffee shops, hotels and rental cars in 70 cities Spirit flew to. Every airline job carries 3 more on its back.

40,000 people out of work because of one woman’s moronic crusade against the market. 

And the math ain’t mathing.

Spirit abandoned 90 routes during the death spiral. Fares on those routes are up 14% on average. Oakland to Newark: $135 to $288. Fort Myers to San Juan: $92 to $219. Kansas City to Newark up 66%.

That’s reality. Not some BS number from a “study.”

So 

@SenWarren

 tell me how this saves the consumer money?

Cheap carriers in a market drop fares 21% across the board. Southwest did this in the 90s and saved Americans $68 BILLION over 20 years.

Warren killed it. That’s what moronic politicians led by socialism do.

Then with her own blind arrogance, she tweeted Spirit’s collapse is “a Biden win for flyers.”

A win.

14,000 people are reading termination letters tonight. 

And she’s taking credit.

This is socialism in 2026. 

A senator who’s never made payroll thinks she knows how to run a market better than the people who own and work in the company.

She saved you a billion on imaginary paper. She cost you ten times that in real life.

She didn’t protect consumers from anything.14,000+ will go from working to welfare.

She will make sure to blame billionaires, hardworking tax payers, AI, capitalism and whatever monster they will make up tomorrow hiding under your bed.  

Higher taxes. Fewer jobs. More expensive everything.  She called it a win. I hope you enjoy winning.

The Peleg-Auerbach Crazies are just one step away from Cursing Hashem C"V

 

In this week’s parsha, Emor, the Torah recounts the troubling story of the מקלל mekalel — the man who, shockingly, cursed the Ribbono Shel Olam.

But what pushed him to such an unthinkable act?

Chazal fill in the background.

The mekalel noticed that the Lechem HaPanim, the showbread, remained on the Shulchan for an entire week. He was outraged.

“Is this how we honor Hashem? A king is served warm, freshly baked bread. Why should God receive week‑old bread?”

In his mind, he was standing up for Kavod Shamayim. He was a kanoi, a zealot for Hashem’s honor.

And yet — only minutes after this supposed righteous indignation — he turned around and cursed the very God he claimed to defend.

What happened?

First, his entire premise was mistaken.

The Lechem HaPanim was not offered to Hashem on the Mizbeach at all. It was eaten by the Kohanim — and they were perfectly satisfied with it. Moreover, the Midrash teaches that the bread miraculously stayed fresh and warm all week long.

So why was he inserting himself into a matter that wasn’t his business, and that he didn’t understand?

Because this is the danger of people who fight “Leshem Shamayim.”

When a person convinces himself that he is battling for God, that he alone knows what Hashem wants, that his anger is holy — that very passion can twist into something destructive.

The same fire that he believes is righteous can turn him, in moments, into a mekalel.

A fight that begins “for Hashem” can end in the exact opposite.

The Peleg-Auerbach crazies bring their Gemarras and Seforim while sitting and blocking buses and cars filled with mothers trying to get home to feed their children, with the elderly sitting in traffic for hours, with fathers trying to get home after a whole day at work, children anxious to get home, but they are doing "God's work" it's after all, לשם שמים

I would not be surprised to hear that many will turn and become the infamous מקלל!

There is an Instagram channel where many of these Peleg-Auerbach have already turned and gone off the derech!

Yes my friends!! It's "sefira" Time and the religious parties are at each other's throats once again!

 Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni launched a harsh attack on Shas leader Aryeh Deri on Thursday, only to receive a strong counter-attack from MK Michael Malkieli of Shas.

“I am boiling with rage," Gafni said in an interview with Radio Kol Barama. “There was a clear decision that we would go into the opposition and give up ministerial positions - and Shas is not honoring it. We left the coalition, but they refused to do so. They continue to run government ministries and openly admit that they are still part of the coalition."

Gafni claimed that “Shas does not want Ashkenazi rabbis. I asked Deri to sit down and discuss the matter, and he flatly refused."

Referring to the Attorney General’s opinion that institutions which serve draft-eligible yeshiva students will no longer be eligible to grant tax benefits to donors, Gafni said: “The Attorney General’s decision joins a long list of rulings that make no legal sense. No other body unrelated to the haredi public would ever be treated this way. I don’t understand how the Prime Minister continues to keep this woman in her position - she is outright antisemitic. He should issue a statement saying he will not cooperate with her and that she is fired."

He added, “The Attorney General does not believe in Torah study, she does not want this government, she doesn’t even hide her position. She wants to strip us of our voting rights. It’s coming."

MK Michael Malkieli of Shas responded sharply to Gafni’s attack on Deri: “While you’re spreading lies, you seem to have forgotten the facts and the truth. Right now, the only haredi government minister in Israel belongs to Gafni’s party. And the only former committee chairman still sitting in his office as chairman of the Finance Committee is Gafni himself. Fix yourself first before you criticize others."

Malkieli continued, “You, Gafni, only woke up when you made the effort to come to the Knesset at 1:00 a.m. to fight and oppose the transfer of large budgets for building mikvaot across the country. Thank God you failed, and with heavenly help, we succeeded in significantly strengthening the entire network of mikvaot in Israel."

“Shas, which receives its instructions and guidance solely from the Council of Torah Sages, will continue to lead on all fundamental issues," he concluded. “It is sad and painful that while the world of Torah is under threat and your friends are working alongside us to meet the needs of the public, you find the time to engage in infighting and chase headlines."

Zera Shimshon Parshat Emor

 

Is Dancing Around a Fire, worshipping Avoda Zara??

by EMAILIM BATORAH

THE DARKEI EMORI FIRE DANCE

Dancing in front of a fire would be an איסור דאורייתא of ובחקתיהם לא תלכו.

Some might claim that dancing in front of a fire in Miron is an accepted מנהג בישראל, and they will argue that it can’t be wrong when you have thousands of Yidden & Rebbes dancing around the fire.

The same argument was probably also used when there were thousands of Yidden worshipping the עגל הזהב.

The תוספתא (Shabbos 7:1) enumerates practices that are אסור to do because they are considered דרכי אמורי.
One of them is clapping or dancing in front of a fire.

Perhaps, those planning to dance in front of the fire should consult their מורה הוראה if this איסור דאורייתא is no longer applicable today, and why not?

See שו”ת שבט הלוי ח”ז קל”ו

Lag Baomer compendium

1) According to ר' מנחם החברוני (13th century) רשב"י is buried in Kfar Chananya (15 km. south of Meron) 2) According to the חיד"א, there is no מקור anywhere that רשב"י was niftar on Lag Baomer 3) The first mention of רשב"י Yahrzeit on ל:ג בעומר is the controversial ספר חמדת הימים 4) According to the יעב"ץ, (The Chasam Sofer seems to agree)  R. Moishe d'Leon (not רשב"י), wrote the זהר 5) According to many Poskim, the תלמידי ר' עקיבא still died on ל"ג בעומר but stopped on the 34th day of the עומר. 6)  The מדרש says it was only 300 Talmidim who died. The גמרא (Yevamos 62) says 12,000 pairs of Talmidim died. 7) The גמרא says they all died of a disease called אסכרה.  According to Harav Hagaon Y. Henkin zt"l and others, the גמרא uses אסכרה as a code for getting killed fighting the Romans. 8) The שואל ומשיב  5 - 39  writes, "If you distribute the  money to עניי ארץ ישראל instead of spending it to go to his  קבר etc., he guarantees רשב"י will have  much more נחת רוח. 9) According to the Chasam Sofer,ל"ג בעומר celebration has nothing to do with רשב"י  10) According to the Chasam Sofer, the only ל"ג בעומר celebration is קצת שמחה of not saying תחנון 11) According to the   מנחת אלעזר ח"ד:ס.the ל"ג בעומר celebration is strictly a מנהג ארץ ישראל Celebrating in חוץ לארץ is onsidered strange & arrogant. כזרות יחשב וכיוהרא  12) When the מנחת אלעזר was in Eretz Yisrael during ל"ג בעומר he spent the night in צפת, not willing to celebrate in Meron together with the Zionists.             13) The תוספתא (Shabbos 7:1) says clapping hands or  dancing in front of a fire is אסור because of דרכי אמורי.  14) In the ספרים of the previous generations, they only mention of מרבים בנרות (festive) and not the מדורה 15)  Years ago, they had women dancing in Meron on Lag Baomer לכבוד התנא רשב"י 16) Originally, the pilgrimage to Meron for the first 350 years was done on פסח שני and not on ל"ג בעומר  17) Originally, the celebration was held at the cave of בית שמאי & בית הלל at a later date it was changed to רשב"י  18) Originally, it was only Muslim women who burned their clothes לכבוד רשב"י. The Yidden later adopted this controversial Minhag. 19) It's not the lighting of the fire that's done לכבוד רשב"י It's the burning of the expensive clothes that is done לכבוד רשב"י  20)  The Chasam Sofer in the פתיחה to סדר נזיקין writes, the Yeshiva started learning מס' בבא קמא on Lag Baomer. גל עיני ואביטה נפלאות מתורתך stands for the 3 בבות & their 30 פרקים  21) Rav Elyashiv Zt"l said that דעת תורה is not to travel to Meron  ל"ג בעומר  -------------------------------

 

Dovid Naftali Hertz a rebbe of children in Beitar Illit Exposes Himself in Shul in front of Children

 

Touched himself in a synagogue in front of children ‎

‎David Naftali Hertz Roth, a rebbe from Beitar Illit, was arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts in public in front of minors.

According to the police report, Hertz Roth exposed his genitals and touched himself in shul last Shabbos - while minors were there.

t also emerges that after the incident, while passing by little girls on the street, he repeated his actions in front of their eyes. ‎

‎The police are concerned that there are other victims who were exposed to the suspect's actions over the weekend, and are urging anyone with information to contact the 100 hotline‎

החשד: נגע בעצמו בבית כנסת לעיני ילדים

דוד נפתלי הרץ רוט, מחנך מביתר עילית, נעצר בחשד לכך שביצע מעשים מגונים בפומבי בפני קטינים. לפי החשד, הרץ רוט חשף את איבר מינו ונגע בעצמו בבית כנסת ביום שבת האחרון - בזמן שקטינים שהו במקום. עוד עולה כי אחרי המקרה, בזמן שחלף על פני ילדות קטנות ברחוב, הוא חזר על מעשיו לעיניהן.

במשטרה חוששים שיש קורבנות נוספים שנחשפו למעשיו של החשוד בסוף השבוע, וקוראים למי שיש בידיו מידע ליצור קשר עם מוקד 100

Widow of IDF Soldiers Opens Box of his personal Items

 

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People wondering why Iran had to force Jewish community leaders to express loyalty to the new Supreme Leader...when they could get Neturei Karta

 

🚨 The Jewish community leaders in Iran were forcibly brought to Tehran today to express loyalty to the new Supreme Leader, on behalf of the community. pic.twitter.com/ME4ZSfcYoz

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) April 29, 2026

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Ben Gvir Opposes Meron Plan "We’re Racing Toward the Next Disaster"... DIN Message "Let them do what the H they want"

 

What Ben-Gvir doesn't understand is that Charedim by-in-large are reckless and don't care what he thinks and could care less about safety! 

They didn't allow the Israeli Government to regulate and provide safety measures in Miron for decades! 

It wasn't too long ago when 45 Chardeie men got killed by other Charedim in a stampede in this very place, and what did their "gedoilim" say? 

They said that these victims were martyrs that died "Al Kiddush Hashem" .....  These same "gedoilim" don't think IDF soldiers getting killed, die "Al Kiddush Hashem"

Utter insanity!

All those who smothered the 45 people in Meron, stepping on their living bodies, pushing helpless people to the floor, each and every one of them, is called according to the Torah a "רוצח " and would have to go to the Arei Miklat, and wait there until the Kohein Gadol died! 

In Bnei-Brak they refused to go to shelters? Why you naively ask? 

Because as the Israeli Yated wrote, "since it was the Zionist Government that made those regulations, it was prohibited to listen to them" They instead listened to a Chazon Ish that said that Bnei-Brak would never be bombed! 

Charedim (grown men) climb up on 30 story Crains in Yerushalayim during protests, putting their very lives at risk! They put their bodies in front of buses and cars, and pull out sefarim so it shouldn't be "Bittul Torah" ..Two of those who stopped traffic over the last year have been killed and 3 seriously injured.

What are the results? 

Tragedy!!!! 

Tragedy in Meron, Tragedy in Bnei-Brak, and Tragedy in Yerushlayim!!

My message to Ben-Gvir is: Let them do what the hell they want, they won't listen to you even when they see tragedies! 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir held a security assessment at Meron on Wednesday and toured the site with senior police commanders and other officials as plans take shape for Lag B’Omer.

However, Ben-Gvir harshly criticized the plan approved by the Home Front Command for managing the Lag B’Omer event at Meron.

According to Ben Gvir, the proposed framework does not reflect realities on the ground. While it formally limits gatherings to about 1,500 participants per area, multiple designated zones could result in thousands of people being present on Har Meron at the same time—posing a serious safety risk.

The discussion took place against the backdrop of ongoing security tensions in southern Lebanon. The minister emphasized that the ceasefire with Hezbollah has been repeatedly violated in recent days, turning any large gathering into a potential target.

During the meeting, Ben Gvir stressed that he would not approve the event without explicit security authorization and a revised, realistic plan from the Home Front Command that ensures participant safety.

“I just held a special situational assessment in Meron, where I heard from all relevant parties—both security officials and Chareidi community leaders,” he said. “My conclusion is clear: I’m raising a red flag—we are racing, with our eyes wide open, toward the next disaster.”

“Unfortunately, the Home Front Command is presenting a sophisticated-sounding but unrealistic position. Without explicit approval and a genuine plan that guarantees safety, I cannot authorize the event.”

“I demand that the Home Front Command come to its senses and approve a workable framework. We will not abandon the lives of our Chareidi, secular, and Dati Leumi brothers who come to Meron.”