Witness in Meron Tragedy

 Witness:

[...]”This was the worst incident I’ve ever experienced,” a Hatzalah member said. “We simply ran from resuscitation to resuscitation. We left one body and ran to the next one. I can’t remember such a terrible incident. The Hatzalah members were falling apart as they tended to the wounded.”

“Masses of people were pushed into one corner and fell one on top of another,” Dvir, 25, a witness to the scene, told Army Radio. “There were stairs there and the people on the top fell and were injured the worst, the people on the second level after them…I was on the second level and I thought I was going to die.”

Another witness from Beit Shemesh said in a radio interview: “The whole time there were people passing through and everything was going smoothly. Suddenly there was terrible crowding. I looked up and saw five police officers who were simply standing there and stopping people from passing.”

“People begged, cried, screamed that they’re going to die, that they can’t breathe, but they didn’t open the passageway. Children were fainting in their parents’ arms. When the police finally allowed people through, everyone collapsed one on top of the other.”

ALSO: “A policeman saw the crowd but instead of opening an escape path for people, he threatened them with pepper spray,” Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Yossi Daitch who was at the scene told the Behadrei Hadarim website. 

We cannot let this collect dust in the memory of the Israelis!

Massacre in Meron: https://rumble.com/vgb2db-massacre-in-meron.html

Here’s a clue to the police modus opperendai: they removed the public cameras the day before! (On the rumble video)

COPING WITH DISASTER . . . 8 Helpful Ideas ALERT UPDATES

MISASKIM ALERT 

Please call 718-854-4548 ONLY if you are missing an immediate family member and need assistance.

There is a hotline set up by Zaka. Pls fill out this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDymRMlF7HeFilw0k1kk3mE1phFR1d4qAvSVWGmS_D5Ekaxw/viewform

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Below is a short list of eight fundamental ideas about coping with disaster that you may find helpful if you feel affected by this event- in addition to praying for the welfare of the injured and seeing if there is any other practical help you are able to provide.

Avi Tenenbaum is an expert in Disaster Behavioral Health and Psychological First Aid. His experience includes providing aid for families coping in the wake of large-scale disasters and war including the Second Lebanon War, Hurricane Harvey, The Pittsburg Tree-of-Life massacre, the Haifa 2016 Fires, Operation Cast-Lead, Sorotzkin Arson Fires, and more. He can be reached at avitenenbaum9@gmail.com

One, it is normal to feel traumatized or affected emotionally and psychologically by this type of event. People react in all sorts of ways to traumatic incidents. You may have trouble sleeping, feel sad, have intrusive thoughts, a lack of appetite, or other symptoms of trauma in lieu of the Meron Disaster.

Experts reassure that it is quite normal and even expected to have symptoms like these immediately after such an event. It has been described as a "normal reaction to abnormal circumstances". This is how our bodies and minds react to such unthinkable tragedies. Do not panic or be overly concerned if this happens to you.

You are not alone in having such feelings.

Two, you are permitted to feel sad or shocked about this event even if you did not personally lose somebody in this incident. Some trauma incidents occur on such a large scale that we, as the Jewish people, feel emotionally connected to what happened regardless of having any direct personal involvement.

You did not need to have travelled to Meron this year to feel sad or affected by this event. You do not need to feel stupid or guilty that you feel anything at all concerning this event. You do not need to feel guilty that you feel indifferent or empty if this is what you feel. You are permitted to feel exactly as you do right now, and this is acceptable.

You are not alone in having such feelings.

Three, some people may feel guilty that they were not harmed in this disaster while others were injured or killed. Thoughts like "why did I survive while they didn't?" can come up in our minds and feel challenging.

These types of thoughts commonly occur after escaping such incidents without harm and this phenomenon is well known.

If this happens to you, you are not alone in having such thoughts.

Four, after events like these it is common to ask oneself or other people questions such as "why did this happen?" or "why on Lag Ba'Omer, on such a joyous day and holy site?”

It is okay to have such questions. You may or may not find answers to them now or ever. In fact, you may not even be seeking an answer but a way to express shock and surprise by talking about this event in the form of a question. This is common and okay. If you feel like you are carrying around questions like these and feeling shocked, you are not alone.

Five, if you are feeling some challenging emotions or reacting in some way to the tragic event, you can think of some practical ways to cope. I invite you to pause and think of a safe reasonable way of coping that might help you. Can you think of something which would make you feel calmer, better, or at ease?

Here are some time-tested coping methods that you might find helpful. Feel free to try them as needed-

-Call a trusted friend and share with them whatever you feel you want to. Get a hug. Be listened to. Reach out to people who you feel could hear your feelings or story.

-Go for a walk around the block or neighborhood by yourself or with a friend.

-Listen to calming music.

-Reduce your exposure to media coverage of the disaster.

-Talk to a professional.

-Avoid using alcohol and drugs as a method of coping with challenging thoughts or feelings. There are many reasons for this.

There are many ways to cope with trauma. Discover the ways that help you feel more at ease. See what you can come up with. If you would like, consult with a trusted friend or professional on how to do this.

Six, Take it easy. These types of events have a major impact on our bodies and minds. They can be overwhelming, tiring, depressing, or confusing. Make sure to eat, drink, rest, and take it easy as needed. Sometimes we need to slow down and take care of ourselves, and that is okay.

Seven, Difficult thoughts and feelings from such disasters usually begin to subside after a few days from when the incident occurred. For others, these symptoms may persist for a few weeks and then go away. For a smaller group of people, these symptoms may persist for a month and even longer. You are invited to consult with a professional at any time for assistance.

If you find yourself having a challenging time after 3 days from the incident has passed, experts recommend that you connect with a trusted professional to get some assistance.

If you find yourself having thoughts of suicide you should seek assistance immediately.

Over the next few days, I hope that we will see a slew of services available for those seeking counseling and emotional support in light of these tragic events.

Here are two resources available right now-

"Eran" operates an emotional support hotline which can be reached by dialing 1201. Dial the number without a star before or after it.

For people seeking help specifically from clinicians sensitive to religious people, the Bayit Cham organization is running a special hotline which can be reached by dialing *9518.

Eight, If you know somebody who appears traumatized by the disaster, consider approaching that person and asking if they would like to talk. If they express interest, try to give them an opportunity to share with you whatever they want to. Listen to them nonjudgmentally and with empathy. Do not ask them to tell you their story if they do not offer to.

Ask directly if there is anything they would like from you at this time. If their request is reasonable, see if you can help them with it. Encourage them to connect with a professional if you or they suspect that this is necessary. If you chat together and they express interest in learning ways to cope with traumatic stress, see if you can both together come up with some coping techniques that the person things will be helpful to them. Make sure that the person gets the support that they need.

One Hundred and Ten Years Ago . . . at Meron

Meron Tragedy Eerie Reminder of Similar Calamity 110 Years Ago

It did not take moments from the Meron tragedy for historians to point out that a similar event took place exactly one hundred and ten years ago, on the night of Lag Ba’omer. Tonight’s events—thought on a far larger scale—bring to mind the article in the Morgen Zhournal of May 21, 1911, a report from an eyewitness.

He begins by laying out for the readers the aura, the joy, the hope-saturated tears and tefillos at the kever. The spirited dancing, and how it is difficult to see any ground beneath the mass of humanity.

“The true joy begins with the “hadlakah”…and lighting this first fire is something that one cannot acquire for any sum in the world. This is a chazakah of the Boyaner Rebbe, without whose permission one cannot light the fire. And as soon as the […] it is indeed lit, then begins the true hislahavus… the chassidim dance with a rare fervor, the light blinds the eyes, and it goes on for the entire night.

“This year, this joy began just as it has in previous years… only it ended in a catastrophe:

“The entire courtyard, and the entire surrounding area, are packed with people… The clock strikes ten, and Reb Refoel Dayan, the appointee of the Boyaner Rebbe, lights the hadlakah. The fervor reaches its climax as the men dance around the fire… and suddenly, BANG!, the platform collapsed with a terrible thud—the steel, along with the heavy stone—and with them the many people stationed atop the balcony. 

“To describe what then transpired… the moans of the injured as they lay under pieces of metal… the screams of the children… A shudder goes through one’s body hearing, and imagining, these events that unfolded there. The large crowd did not know what to do first, how to approach the work of the rescue. After a while, when some of the crowd had dispersed, they were able to tend to the injured.

“40 people were badly injured, and one by one they were brought indoors. There was no medicine, no first-aid… with water and schnapps they were awakened. There was only one doctor in attendance, the city doctor of Tzefas. Meron is one hour from Tzefas (in those times), and until doctors and medicine could arrive took three hours.”

It went on to lament the need to support the fresh Yesomim and almanos.

As we dazedly lift up our eyes Heavenward and cry out: kdai hu Rabi Shimon lismoch alav bish’as Hadchak… In the zechus of Rabi Shimon who is surely deeply pained by the tragedy that occurred in his backyard, may he approach the Kisei Hakovod and beseech Hashem to end the galus immediately.

HORRIFIC TRAGEDY IN MERON

before all the initial reports mostly, from the Jewish/Israeli news, disappear into a sanitised version:

HORRIFIC TRAGEDY IN MERON: 44 R”L Dead After Stampede At Kever Rashbi; More Than 100 Injured

A stampede broke out early Friday at a Jewish religious festival attended by tens of thousands of people in northern Israel, killing nearly 40 people and leaving some 150 hospitalized, medical officials said.

The stampede, one of the deadliest civilian disasters in Israeli history, occurred during the celebrations of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron. Tens of thousands of people, mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews, gather each year to honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a 2nd century sage and mystic who is buried there. Large crowds traditionally light bonfires, pray and dance as part of the celebrations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “great tragedy,” and said everyone was praying for the victims.

Media estimated the crowd at about 100,000 people.

Eli Beer, director of the Hatzalah rescue service, said he was horrified by how crowded the event was, saying the site was equipped to handle perhaps a quarter of the number who were there.

“Close to 40 people died as a result of this tragedy,” he told the station.

The incident happened after midnight, and the cause of the stampede was not immediately clear. Videos circulating on social media showed large numbers of ultra-Orthodox Jews packed together in tight spaces.

A 24-year-old witness, identified only by his first name Dvir, told the Army Radio station that “masses of people were pushed into the same corner and a vortex was created.” He said a first row of people fell down, and then a second row, where he was standing, also began to fall down from the pressure of the stampede

Police fire pepper spray in Meron

Riots over the partitions between men and women at the shrine of R. Shimon Bar Yochai were dispersed by force, including the use of pepper spray.

Vaccine clinic in Meron

A COVID-19 vaccination clinic has been established in Meron, to remain open until Shabbat.

Update: Stampede At Israeli Lag BaOmer Festival Kills Nearly 40

PICTURE NOT SHOWN, THIS IS THE CAPTION:  Israeli security officials and rescuers stand around the bodies of victims who died during a Lag Ba'Omer celebrations at Mt. Meron in northern Israel, Friday, April 30, 2021. The director of an Israeli ambulance service has confirmed that nearly 40 people died in a stampede at a religious festival in northern Israel. (Ishay Jerusalemite/Behadrei Haredim via AP)

FIRST REPORT

MERON (VINnews) — In a horrific turn of events, many people are reported injured in Meron after a stampede occurred near the Toldos Aharon bonfir. There are multiple fatalities, with even more injured.

At the time of this writing there appears to be at least 38 fatalities, and at least 50 people injured, 20 of them critically.

An IDF team has been brought in to asssit with freeing people still trapped.

Inital reports said that the disaster was caused by some sort of collpase, but Magen David Adom seem to indicate that it was ralated to overcrowding.

Later, an IDF team at the scene reported that a roof had collapsed.

The Lag Baomer celebrations have been brough to a halt. Bonfires are being put out, and officials are attempting to lead people out.

In place of the lively music, Tehilim recitals can now be heard.

2018 REPORTER

Chareidi journalist Aryeh Erlich retweeted a warning of a potential tragedy occurring on the narrow Toldos Aharon passageway that he wrote in 2018!

“Tell the police to stop making excuses,” he captioned the retweet. “I refer you to my tweet from 2018.”

In order to prevent a recurrence of what happened at the levaya of HaRav Wosner, z’tl, [when a man was trampled to death and dozens were injured due to overcrowding], it should be forbidden to hold the hadlaka there before a new larger exit way is constructed.”

“People Are Going To Die”

“People Are Going To Die” – J-m Deputy Mayor Warned Police 2 Hrs. Before Disaster

Two hours before the unfathomable mass casualty occurred, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yossi Deitsch warned the police that a tragedy was imminent, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported.

Deitsch told B’Chadrei that he took part in the Boyaner hadlaka two hours before the tragedy and already then he felt the dangerous crushing force of the crowd. “I was being crushed in an unprecedented manner,” he said.

Due to the crowding, he decided to give up on his usual custom of standing and davening at the western entrance, next to the area where the tragedy occurred, and returned home early. His life was saved but sadly, so many others weren’t.

Deitsch slammed the police, saying that he warned them of imminent disaster. “What occurred could have happened two hours beforehand at the Boyaner hadlaka,” he said. 

“The police saw the crowding but didn’t take appropriate action to relieve it. Instead of opening an exit way, they threatened them with pepper spray.”

“I turned to a police officer and warned him that people were going to die. I told him: 

‘You’re not ashamed? You see that people are going to die!’ But there was no one to talk to,” Deitsch asserted.

The Ohr Mashiach Comes Down on Lag Ba’Omer

Rabbi Kessin says the bonfires on Lag Ba’Omer are the Ohr Mashiach because it is a day of redemption, and now we know WHY the Leftist Erev Rav Government wants to quash the number of fires on Lag Ba’Omer

And

Why they try to do this every year!

However, this year he says they have allowed everyone who wants to go to Meron can go. He says it would NOT be unusual for something extra–ordinary and totally amazing to occur IY”H on this Holy day. And the Jews are the “sons of prophets and it’s in their DNA the recognition of this day being so holy.

PS Rabbi Kessin always leaves me with a spiritual neshoma high. He has a way of elucidating Torah concepts in a greater revelation of  the Light of HaShem! B”H

EUPHEMISM – “Environmental Considerations”

No Fires on Lag B’OMER ??

Will they succeed? The next stage in the world takeover by the inmates of the asylum is in progress. Our non–govt is trying to comply with the Agenda. In addition to this, is the silent stealth maneuvers of banks, in their approach to controlling your currency. Forget about crypt-oes. We are in for a harrowing roller-coaster ride.

First it was “heat wave”, then it was the “virus”, now it’s the EPHM! Is there a pattern here?

The Environmental Protection and Health Ministries(EPHM):  Bonfires produce smoke and air pollution and cause breathing difficulties. 

JPOST April 2021: “The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality on Sunday called on residents to celebrate Lag Ba'Omer without lighting traditional bonfires.The holiday will take place on Thursday evening and Friday, and the municipality is asking citizens not to light bonfires because of safety and environmental considerations.  “...are also urging alternative ways to celebrate the holiday.”

YnetNews May 2020:  Israel bans all Lag BaOmer bonfires due to coronavirus outbreak. Traditional bonfires banned in private areas as well due to fears of mass virus contagion and multitude of house fires; pilgrims not allowed to visit tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Mount Meron 

timesofisrael May 2019:  The Fire and Rescue Service has announced strict restrictions on bonfires this Wednesday night, the eve of the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer, due to a severe heat wave expected to hit the country ahead of the weekend.

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Need we say more? This is one symptom of their plan to control .... they will be using these “ministries” more and more to pull us under the glowbil blanket. All while appealing to “logic” and “saving earth”. 

As if HaShem is not in control. 

They want to be the “in-control-ministries” over our lifestyle and bodies, to “protect us”. Euphemism.

Sources:  https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/lag-baomer-without-bonfires-tel-aviv-limits-holiday-celebrations-666282

A link to keep https://vladimirzelenkomd.com/