From Across the Oceans
From Montreal and Manchester, Buenos Aires and Teaneck, each of these very different people had made their own way to the same destination
As the outpouring of grief across Israel and beyond has made clear, Meron 2021 will go down as a tragedy of the entire Jewish People 45 holy souls, Jews of all types, who died minutes after beseeching kera ro’a gezar dineinu.
But of the many thousands drawn to the elevation of Rabi Shimon last week, and the hundreds who entered the horror that was the tunnel of death, one group stands apart.
From different cities, countries, and continents, they’d waved goodbye as they boarded a plane to learn in yeshivah and grow in kollel, to spend time in Eretz Yisrael or go directly to Meron. From Montreal and Manchester, Buenos Aires and Teaneck, each of these very different people had made their own way to the same destination.
Updated: 1 May 2021, 15:14
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RELIGIOUS leaders pressured organisers not to limit numbers at a festival in Israel before 45 people were crushed to death, say shock reports.
Dozens died when panicked crowds funnelled into a tiny death trap tunnel at a high-profile Jewish festival late on Thursday night.
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People attempting to escape after the grandstand reportedly collapsedCredit: Reuters
Now it s been been suggested religious leaders put pressure NOT to limit numbers - as it emerged more than 100,000 people eventually turned up.
Reports had previously warned large numbers posed a danger to human life and suggested that capacity should be capped at 15,000.
Updated: May 1 2021, 10:18 ET
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RELIGIOUS leaders pressured organisers not to limit numbers at a festival in Israel before 45 people were crushed to death, say shock reports.
Dozens died when panicked crowds funnelled into a tiny death trap tunnel at a high-profile Jewish festival late on Thursday night.
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People attempting to escape after the grandstand reportedly collapsedCredit: Reuters
The country s worst peacetime disaster unfolded at the overcrowded festival of Lag B Omer in Meron.
Now it s been been suggested religious leaders put pressure NOT to limit numbers - as it emerged more than 100,000 people eventually turned up.
Reports had previously warned large numbers posed a danger to human life and suggested that capacity should be capped at 15,000.
Updated: Apr 30 2021, 18:27 ET
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TWO pairs of young brothers were among the 45 victims of the devastating Lag B Omer festival stampede as panicked crowds funnelled into a tiny death trap tunnel.
The disaster unfolded in Meron, Israel, shortly after midnight as Jewish worshippers were left gasping for air and others were crushed to death, with funerals already underway for victims.
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Mourners carry the body of Shragee Gestetner, a Canadian singer who died during Lag BaOmer celebrationsCredit: AP
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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish mourners carry the body of a victim during a funeral ceremony in JerusalemCredit: AFP
As survivors tell of the horrific scenes, the names of two pairs of young brothers who died in the incident have been revealed.