JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rabbi David Yosef issued a sharp warning ahead of Lag BaOmer, urging the public not to travel to Mount Meron in defiance of security restrictions.

Speaking amid heightened concerns in northern Israel, Yosef said attempts to reach the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai despite official guidance are not acts of religious devotion but violations of core Torah principles.

“The Torah commands that a person should live by the commandments, not die because of them,” Yosef said, rejecting claims that such travel constitutes mesirut nefesh, or self-sacrifice.

He cautioned against relying on faith alone in dangerous conditions, saying individuals must not place themselves at risk while assuming divine protection. Yosef added that when security authorities unanimously determine there is danger, Jewish law requires adhering to their instructions.

Drawing a comparison to established religious rulings, he noted that a person instructed by a doctor to eat on Yom Kippur must do so, underscoring that preserving life overrides other obligations.

Yosef also warned of the risks posed by large crowds gathering under unsafe conditions, including the potential for panic and trampling.

He called on the public to avoid traveling to the site under current circumstances, saying those who value their lives should stay away.