A threat is emanating from Toldos Aaron in Meah Shearim, that it will cancel the lighting of the Lag B’Omer fire by the Rebbe Shlita on motzei Lag B’Omer in Meron in response to state funding to prepare the area of Tziyun Rashbi for the event in keeping in line with the chassidus’ policy of not taking funds from a Zionist government.

Thousands of shekels are allocated annually in preparing the area for the event and the admor of Toldos Aaron takes part annually. His lighting officially ends the Lag B’Omer event with his lighting on motzei yomtov. This year however, the chassidus is making an issue of the state funding, which is not unique to this year alone. Chadrei Chareidim explains the matter surrounds funding that was allocated this year for a special platform for the rebbe and for an ezras noshim.

Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman is handling a 2 million NIS budget for the event, a significant sum which is divided to accommodate the lightings of a number of chassidic courts in Meron on yomtov.

A notice has been posted in the Toldos Aaron Beis Medrash entitled “notice and protest” in reference to state funding which is based on “rumors” the notice states.

The scathing notice reads “…the evil government and its proxies tracks its paws on the holy site towards expropriating it G-d forbid”.

“And now, the state budget allocates huge sums to build and prepare a fire towards gaining control on the holy site and all groups that plan to light and have chalakas (upsherin/ haircut for 3-year-olds) for the innocent children, all towards gaining control of the Taharas HaKodesh”.

The sharply worded notice continues to address learning that funds are also being spent to fund the Toldos Aaron event, and this is simply unacceptable – stressing the need to be moser nefesh to “distance ourselves from foreign support, to refrain from accepting assistance from the Zionists in any way whatsoever”.

The notice concludes “If chas v’sholom were are unsuccessful in removing this gezeira, then the lighting at the Asra Kadisha will have to be canceled”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)