United Hatzolah Prepares For the Challenges Associated with Meron on Lag Baomer

Each year, over 300,000 people from Israel and around the world, gather together for 24 hours in the small Israeli mountain village of Meron, to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’omer. The countryside will light up with thousands of bonfires in a celebration of light, Torah, and the great Jewish mystic and sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. This many people in such a small space also means people faint, get sick, get hurt, or worse (God forbid) which is why United Hatzalah of Israel is already investing a tremendous amount of infrastructure and manpower to provide emergency medical care to the people of Israel in Meron.

“The main challenge in providing first response care during the massive event each year in Meron is the sheer density of the celebrants as well as the inability to reach and or evacuate an injured person quickly. With 300,000 people cramming themselves into a small village and each and every one of them wanting to go to the graveside and pray at the site itself, the challenge can be overwhelming if not impossible,” said United Hatzalah’s Director of Operations, David Krispel.

In preparation for the yearly pilgrimage which this year will occur on May 25th-26th, United Hatzalah has already begun setting up two on-site medical clinics, a mobile command center, two first aid positions inside the graveside itself. During the holiday itself, there will be at 300 United Hatzalah medics, 100 ambucycles, and will have on site up to 14 teams of medics patrolling the event at any given time.
United Hatzalah’s services are free, universal and 24/7. Our volunteer EMT’s, paramedics and doctors work for free out of their love for the Jewish people. The cost for United Hatzalah’s operation in Meron is $60,000.

Now is your chance to help United Hatzalah safeguard and protect the people of Israel in Meron. Because this is part of our Israel120 campaign, all donations will be worth double. Donors who wish to give $360 can have their names on a ‘wall of life’ inside United Hatzalah’s mobile command center in Meron. Donate today and know that your contribution will help fulfill the mitzvah of saving lives in Meron.