City Focus Israel: Meron

Meron is a beautiful city in Northern Israel. The town is famous because it is the resting place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yocahi.

It is taught that Shimon Bar Yochai wrote the main text of the Kabbalah, the Zohar, in a cave near Meron.

It is tradition to visit the Kever (grave) of Shimon Bar Yochai on the anniversary of his death, which falls on Lag B’Omer. Lag B’Omer takes place on the 33rd day of the counting of the omer. On this day tens to hundreds of thousands of Jews gather to touch the Rabbi’s grave. I took the picture on the left on Lag B’Omer in 2006.

Rabbis Hillel and Shammai are also buried in Meron. The city was also attacked during the recent war with Hezbollah, as it is within Ketusha Rocket range from Southern Lebanon.