Member of Knesset Meir Porush announced that he will not travel to Meron for Lag BaOmer this year following the cancellation of the annual hilula and called for serious reflection and lessons to be drawn from the situation.

In a personal column published late Sunday, Porush opened with a clear declaration: “I will start from the end. This year as well, unfortunately, I will not take part in the hilula of Rashbi at the holy site of Meron.”

Porush wrote that since childhood, attending the annual gathering had been a constant in his life. “Since I was a small child, there was almost no year in which I missed participating in the holy hilula. Meron, throughout the year, and especially on Lag BaOmer, is truly part of my very being — a feeling I am certain many people from Yerushalayim share.”

He added that in recent years he had played a central role in organizing the event, describing it as a significant merit. “My merit grew even more over the past three years, during which I had the privilege of leading the preparations for the holy hilula, and in the years 5783 and 5785, with the help of Heaven, we succeeded in holding these elevated gatherings with great crowds and dignity, attended by tens of thousands of the Jewish people.”

Even after stepping down from his government role, Porush said he continued to be involved in planning efforts under the guidance of senior rabbinic leadership. “In the past year, after my departure from the government, under the directive of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, I continued, with the blessing of our revered admorim, to assist in my role as a member of Knesset in the preparations for the hilula, alongside those engaged in this sacred work.”

Porush described being taken aback by the government’s decision earlier this month to cancel the event. “However, last Friday, the 7th of Iyar, we were astonished to hear about the cabinet’s decision to cancel the hilula. Those involved in the work at the Ministry of Yerushalayim and Heritage did not give up in the face of this decree, and with great creativity formulated an interim plan that was approved by the Home Front Command.”

He claimed that certain elements within government authorities worked to block that compromise plan. “On the other hand, certain parties within the government authorities acted with all their strength against this plan, placing obstacle after obstacle in order to prevent the arrival of the thousands to the hilula. The matter ended with the new decision of the Home Front Command last Friday, the 14th of Iyar, to further tighten the restrictions, which in practice do not allow the hilula events to take place.”

Porush said he would refrain from publicly detailing his full position on the decisions. “At this time, I will refrain from expressing my opinion regarding the decisions that were made. What I heard in the discussions of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I heard, and what I said in the discussion with the prime minister, I said. I was not a partner to the decision that was later made, and I am not at peace with it, and I will not elaborate further.”

He acknowledged the deep disappointment caused by the cancellation, noting the personal significance the event holds for him. “The current situation is that the hilula of Rashbi in Meron will no longer take place in a format that meets the outline I established — ‘with prayer, with safety, and with joy.’ This pains me very much, the memories of the hilula in the years 5780, 5781, 5782, and 5784 are deeply etched in me, and the knowledge that once again we will not hold the hilula in its proper form is very distressing.”

Despite the situation, Porush stressed the importance of learning from past experiences. “I expect that nevertheless, the lessons that can be learned will indeed be learned. As I said in the Knesset plenum during a discussion on the Meron law, even before the security situation in the north became clear: ‘I want to emphasize that what happened in 5784 cannot repeat itself. The professionals, together with the police, must formulate a more balanced framework, one that does not end with unbearable scenes of violence and chaos.’ I very much hope that the message has been heard and will continue to be heard.”

He emphasized that he would stand in solidarity with the broader public who will be unable to attend. “The majority of the Jewish people will not merit this year to fulfill their desire to participate in the holy hilula, and I will share in their pain. Even though I have the ability, as someone who ‘benefits’ from parliamentary immunity, to go up to Meron — I do not feel it is appropriate for me to do so when you, my dear brothers, the people of Meron, cannot do so.”

Porush concluded with a message encouraging unity and introspection, even from afar. “Together with you, each person in his own city or by his rov, we will try to rejoice in the joy of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, even from a distance, with closeness of heart, and we will examine our deeds and make an accounting of the soul as to why the ascent to Meron on Lag BaOmer — something that was once so natural — has over the years become such a great challenge, and sometimes even impossible.”

{Matzav.com}