Over 140,000 Attend Major Pilgrimage at Mount of Olives for 'Or HaChaim'

More than 140,000 worshippers gathered at the Mount of Olives over the weekend to commemorate the yahrzeit of Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, known as the 'Or HaChaim,' an 18th-century kabbalist and halachic authority. The event, one of the largest and most densely attended in Jerusalem in recent months, was managed through an extensive logistical and security operation.

Authorities, including the police, the Ministry of Religious Services, the Jerusalem Municipality, and the Cemetery Council, coordinated a complex plan to ensure safety and order. Due to the sensitive location and challenging terrain of the Mount of Olives, private vehicle access was completely blocked. Attendees were transported exclusively via a network of shuttles and dedicated public transportation operating around the clock.

Preparations spanned several weeks and involved setting up expanded crowd areas, lighting, shading, water distribution points, and deploying hundreds of stewards, police officers, and emergency medical and fire teams. Zuri'el Krispel, CEO of the Jerusalem Cemetery Council, described the operation as one of the most complex logistical efforts at the site, emphasizing the importance of crowd flow management and security coordination to prevent overcrowding and protect lives.

Judah Avidan, CEO of the Ministry of Religious Services, praised the public's compliance with security and steward instructions, which enabled the event to proceed safely. He noted that the ministry has been managing similar large-scale pilgrimages, such as those for Baba Sali and Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, under strict professional and safety standards. Despite heavy traffic congestion on routes leading to the Old City and East Jerusalem, the transportation system successfully dispersed the crowds without major incidents.