Over 1,000 Bone Marrow Samples Collected at Meron in Major National Drive

On the eve of the Hebrew month of Elul, thousands gathered at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, Israel, for prayers and a large-scale bone marrow donor registration campaign organized by Ezer Mizion. The event, held as the new school year approached, saw an extraordinary turnout with over 1,000 bone marrow samples collected within hours. Many attendees, including yeshiva students and worshippers, combined their prayers for success and health with the opportunity to potentially save lives by joining the national bone marrow registry.

The simple, non-invasive sampling process allows donors’ genetic data to be added to the national database. If a genetic match is later found with a patient in need of a transplant, these donors can provide life-saving marrow. The campaign was supported logistically by the Va’adat HaChamisha committee, which helped set up sampling stations and infrastructure.

Ezer Mizion’s national bone marrow registry has grown significantly since its establishment, now including over 1.3 million potential donors. In July 2026 alone, 9,631 new donors joined, 223 matches were found, and 43 transplants were performed. Since inception, the registry has facilitated 6,695 life-saving transplants. The expansion of the registry is crucial because the likelihood of finding a compatible donor increases with greater genetic diversity and sample numbers.

The Meron drive’s success adds a vital chapter to this ongoing national effort. While not all new donors will be called upon, the possibility remains that one of the more than 1,000 new registrants could be the perfect match for a patient in need, turning their simple act into a life-changing gift. The event exemplified communal solidarity, blending spiritual hope with practical action to save lives.