Meron, Israel

Meron ( , Meiron ) is a moshav (cooperative village) in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near Safed , and within municipal jurisdiction of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council . It was founded in 1949 on the site of an ancient town of the same name ( Meiron ) by Orthodox soldiers discharged after the Israeli War of Independence .

Meron is most famous for the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai , and is the site of annual mass public commemoration of Lag Ba'omer . The association of Meron with the ancient Canaanite city of Merom or Maroma is generally accepted by Archeologists. According to Avraham Negev, by the Second Temple period, Merom was known as Meron. Meron is mentioned in the Bible as the site of Joshua 's victory over the Canaanite kings. In the 12th century, Benjamin de Tudela visited Meron and described a cave of tombs located there believed to hold the remains of Hillel , Shammai , and "twenty of their disciples and other Rabbis". Until at least 1931, Meron consisted of an Arab and Jewish quarter (see Meiron ). Meron's Arab inhabitants were driven out or fled during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . The modern village of Meron was founded in 1949 on the site of the ancient settlement by Orthodox soldiers discharged after the war.

Located on the slopes of Mount Meron in the Upper Galilee near Safed , it falls under the jurisdiction of Merom HaGalil Regional Council . There is also a moshav by the same name. In 2024 it had a population of 790. Meron is most famous for the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai , and is the site of annual mass public commemoration of Lag Ba'Omer . The association of Meron with the ancient Canaanite city of Merom or Maroma is generally accepted by archaeologists. According to Avraham Negev, by the Second Temple period , Merom was known as Meron. Meron is mentioned in the Bible as the site of Joshua 's victory over the Canaanite kings. In the 12th century, Benjamin de Tudela visited Meron and described a cave with tombs, believed to hold the remains of Hillel , Shammai , and "twenty of their disciples and other Rabbis". In 1931, Meron consisted of an Arab and Jewish quarter (see Meiron ). The modern village of Meron was founded in 1949 on the site of the ancient settlement by Orthodox soldiers discharged after the war. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics .

Moshav in northern Israel Place in Northern, Israel Meron ( Hebrew : מֵירוֹן , Meron ) is a moshav in northern Israel . Located on the slopes of Mount Meron in the Upper Galilee near Safed , it falls under the jurisdiction of Merom HaGalil Regional Council . Meron is most famous for the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai , and is the site of annual mass public commemoration of Lag Ba'Omer . The association of Meron with the ancient Canaanite city of Merom or Maroma is generally accepted by archaeologists. According to Avraham Negev , by the Second Temple period , Merom was known as Meron. Meron is mentioned in the Bible as the site of Joshua 's victory over the Canaanite kings. In the 12th century, Benjamin de Tudela visited Meron and described a cave with tombs, believed to hold the remains of Hillel , Shammai , and "twenty of their disciples and other Rabbis". In 1931, Meron consisted of an Arab and Jewish quarter (see Meiron ). The current town was founded by the Hapoel HaMizrachi movement in 1949 on the ruins of the depopulated Palestinian village of Meiron , with an initial population of Orthodox soldiers discharged after the war. In 2024 it had a population of 790. On 30 April 2021, the deadliest civil disaster in the history of Israel occurred at Meron. 45 people were crushed to death while trying to exit through a narrow passage, at the mass gathering to celebrate the holiday of Lag BaOmer. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics .