Tragedy In Meron

Editor's Note By the Grace of G-d At least 45 participants in an all-night Lag BaOmer celebration near the hallowed resting place of reve [Chabad.org]( [View Online]( ב"ה [News]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's Note Editor's Note By the Grace of G-d At least 45 participants in an all-night [Lag BaOmer]( celebration near the hallowed resting place of revered second-century Mishnaic sage Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai in Meron, Israel, died last night in tragic circumstances. Scores more are injured. Our [deepest condolences]( go out to the families of the victims, to all our brethren in the Holy Land and throughout the entire world. We likewise join together as one to express our heartfelt prayers to G-d for the full and speedy recovery of the injured. This unfathomable and inexplicable tragedy begs for the sagacious insight and guidance from the Rebbe, of righteous memory. This is perhaps especially so given the joyous nature of the Lag BaOmer holiday which, following Jewish tradition, is still being celebrated now worldwide and often with redoubled vigor. So, along with news stories, background information on the holy day of Lag BaOmer and its traditions, we bring you a couple of links to the Rebbe's insight, and encourage you to follow the links on those pages to yet much more... We hope and pray that this contributes to us all channeling our shock and disbelief into results that will benefit each of us individually, and the entirety of humankind. Happy Lag BaOmer and Shabbat Shalom! The Chabad.org Team [Scores Crushed to Death at Lag BaOmer Event in Meron, Israel]( [Scores Crushed to Death at Lag BaOmer Event in Meron, Israel]( Celebration at millennia-old holy site takes tragic turn in Israel’s worst-ever civil disaster By Chabad.org Staff [Read]( [Authorities Begin Releasing Names of Victims of Meron Tragedy]( [Authorities Begin Releasing Names of Victims of Meron Tragedy]( Adults and children among the deceased By Chabad.org Staff [Read]( [What Is Lag BaOmer?]( [What Is Lag BaOmer?]( Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count, is a festive day on the Jewish calendar. By Menachem Posner [Read]( [Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai]( [Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai]( Suddenly they heard a heavenly voice saying, “Have you come to destroy My world? Go back to your cave!” By Nissan Mindel [Read]( [Meron: Tomb of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai]( [Meron: Tomb of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai]( Meron is most well-known for being the burial site of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Rabbi Shimon, who lived in the 2nd century CE, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the Kabbalah, and is the author of the Zohar. By Nechama Golding [Read]( --------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE REBBE: [When Tragedy Strikes While Performing a Mitzvah]( A person invited members of his community to a festive meal in his home on Shavuot to celebrate the completion of a Torah scroll. In the course of the celebration, a young woman suddenly fell ill and died. The distraught host wrote to the Rebbe, seeking answers to his questions. Translation of a letter from the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson [Read]( [A Time to Heal]( The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Response to Loss and Tragedy By Mendel Kalmenson [Read]( [Email Dedications]( [Omer Counter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: {EMAIL} [Change email address]( · [Manage Subscriptions]( · [Unsubscribe]( © Copyright [Chabad.org]( · [Contact Us]( · [Ask the Rabbi]( · [Privacy Policy]( · [Donate](