Gedolei Yisroel are voicing strong objections to Sephardic site overseers at Meron who have turned to the secular court system in an effort to block expansion of the area set aside for prayer at the gravesite for R’ Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron — for unclear reasons. Recently they have even sought a court injunction to halt expansion work and to raze tefilloh rooms already under construction.

In their letter, gedolei Yisroel shlita write that the site is often overcrowded and bringing the case to a secular court is a grave prohibition — “dehavei mecharef umegadef beharomas yad beToras Moshe Rabbeinu.” The rabbonim urged them to bring the case only to a beis din and “to make every effort to elevate this great house of prayer.”

Maran HaRav Eliashiv added his signature to a letter written by HaRav Shmuel Auerbach and HaRav Mordechai Gross.

The expansion project is being managed by Vaad Ne’emonei Meron which operates with the blessing and guidance of gedolei Yisroel shlita, who issued instructions to expand the site. The plan called for building an addition to the balcony for kohanim and additional prayer rooms.

(Source: Yechiel Sever for Dei’ah veDibur)