Religious Services Director Recounts Meron Disaster Horrors
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Yehuda Avidan, Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, described the horrific scenes at Mount Meron following the Lag B'Omer disaster, including hundreds of burned bodies and acts of abuse. He spoke of a father's instinct leading to the discovery of a father and daughter embracing in a grave. Avidan also mentioned a secret committee led by Chief that allowed agunot to remarry discreetly. The interview detailed the "hell" experienced during the event, which resulted in 45 deaths.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yehuda Avidan described the "hell" at Mount Meron, including hundreds of burned bodies and abuse.
- He recounted a father's instinct leading to the discovery of a father and daughter embracing in a grave.
- A secret committee, led by Chief, permitted agunot to remarry discreetly.
- Avidan endured sleepless nights and took command on the morning of the disaster.
- The Lag B'Omer disaster resulted in 45 deaths.
Yehuda Avidan, Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, gave a harrowing interview detailing the "hell" at Mount Meron during the Lag B'Omer disaster. He described taking command on the morning of the tragedy and enduring sleepless nights surrounded by hundreds of burned bodies. Avidan recounted witnessing horrific acts of abuse and spoke of a father's instinct that led him to open a grave, discovering a father and daughter embracing.
Avidan also revealed the existence of a secret committee, headed by Chief, which permitted agunot (women whose husbands are missing or whose divorce is uncertain) to remarry "under the radar." The interview, conducted by Kikar HaShabbat, delved into the behind-the-scenes realities of the disaster, including the immense challenges and emotional toll.
The disaster, which claimed 45 lives, occurred during the annual Lag B'Omer celebration on Mount Meron, a site sacred to many Jews. The stampede was one of the deadliest civilian disasters in Israeli history.
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