"Boyan Do, Karlin Recht," says the usher at the entrance in Yiddish. Bracelets of different colors were placed on the hands of the Hasidim, and each stork is directed to its lighting compound. Tens of thousands of believers returned to celebrate Lag B'Omer at the Tomb of the Rashbi in Meron.
"We let our own ultra-Orthodox ushers organize on the Mount, they understand us. It gives us confidence. This year I came back after the disaster," says Moishele of Boyan Hasidism.
Thousands of believers visit the Mount, Photo: David Cohen/Genie
Only 6,000 people received tickets to attend the first Boyan lighting. 160,8 tickets were sold, and traffic jams on the way to Hilola began dozens of kilometers from the tomb compound. Some 000,<> police officers were deployed in an attempt to maintain order. What didn't always help was the vehicle's attempts to pass through the many checkpoints, with each police officer trying to be the one directing traffic in the right way. It did not always work, but the organization was maintained in such a way that the organizers built on discipline among the many visitors. "Whoever has nothing to do in the grave compound should leave," the leaflet announced every short time.
"Mitzvah to participate"
Shneur Zalman arrived with his wife and five children, "We bought bus tickets. It's a mitzvah to participate in the revelry in honor of the righteous," he explains as he pushes a stroller. "My son, Elior, is 3 years old. We will do the skating ceremony for him. We came especially from Beitar Illit. We left by bus at noon. My grandfather used to come and reserve a place for us for years near the tomb compound. He used to live here after Passover in a tent. Now it can't be done anymore, but I'm glad they arranged the place so we can rejoice in the revelry."
Again instructions were not obeyed
Towards 8:30 P.M., the Mabuyan Rebbe began the lighting ceremony. The enthusiasm was at its peak. The pressure was great. Dozens of children were crammed into the men's zone, with fathers trying to protect them. Suddenly, dozens of Hasidim began running to the area from the Karlin Hasidic area to enter the Boyan lighting complex. "Be careful you don't get run over," the policeman next to me said. They couldn't be prevented from coming. "They don't listen to us," one security guard said. The Rebbe lit the central bonfire on the roof of the Rashbi Zion, and the signal was given.
Joy alongside great urgency, photo: David Cohen/Ginny
Thousands of believers began to jump and dance. The atmosphere at the revelry resembled previous revelry. Very pressing. Density. Instructions are no longer obeyed.
Unlike last year's revelry, until halfway to the grave of the Rashbi stood the beggars, and there were feeding stations, fundraisers for various associations and deafening music. 50,<> people were crammed and the tomb compound was fully booked. The new compound that was built outside Moshav Meron remained almost empty during the lighting. The crowd that arrived wanted to reach the Rashbi grave and the lighting site.
Two years after the disaster in which 45 believers perished, the masses returned to the Mount. Fences do not prevent, also the requests of the ushers - men to the right and women to the left, did not help. Everyone wanted to be close to the righteous.
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