In the early morning of April 30, Israel suffered the worst civilian disaster in its history. An estimated 100,000 Ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at Mt. Meron, in contravention to the country’s COVID-19 guidelines, at the beginning of the religious holiday of Lag B’Omer. Forty-five people were killed and more than 150 were injured — many seriously — in a stampede that ensued. As you will see below, Israelis from all communities jumped in to help.
Quote: “Following news of the disaster, Israelis of all backgrounds rushed to aid survivors. Residents of Arab and Druze towns in northern Israel set up refreshment centers for the benefit of evacuees on their way home, and prepared to host those who could not make it back home in time for the Jewish Sabbath. Later in the weekend, blood donation stations were set up across the country, and secular and religious Jews alike lined up to donate their blood for the wounded. Some 2,000 blood transfusions were donated, and the mass mobilization meant that Magen David Adom had managed to acquire all the blood that was required.”
Sources: israel21c.org
Learn more about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Wikipedia. ►
Read “Israelis rush to aid survivors after 45 killed in stampede” ►
Watch “Why did the stampede on Israel’s Mt. Meron happen?” [6:59]. ►
Photo: The Jerusalem Post
We welcome your comments. Click here.
