The "Shabbat - Lag Ba'Omer - Rashbi" Dispute

B"H

The Boyaner Rebbe announced that he is planning to delay his Lag Ba'Omer bonfire and will not light the fire before midnight (Mozzaei Shabbat). Further Rabbis have been announcing the same and keep on warning the religious population not to exaggerate and start any Lag Ba'Omer preparations before Shabbat is over. 

In Israel, Lag Ba'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, is extremely important among the Jewish religious population. Then, thousands of people will be traveling to the grave of the RASHBI, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, in Meron. This year, Lag Ba'Omer is starting this upcoming Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night, after Shabbat ends) and leading Rabbis are very concerned about religious Jews breaking Shabbat in order to get to Meron on time. There is a whole discussion going on who is coming when to Meron. Many Rabbis say that Sunday would be the best day to go and not necessarily on Mozzaei Shabbat.

Now the haredi news site KIKAR SHABBAT is reporting that the Israeli government is planning to turn the grave of Rabbi Shimon into a huge tourist attraction. In fact, our government including the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, have just become greedy and keep on extending tourism. Can you imagine hundreds of Christians visiting the Kever of the Rashbi ? People, who have nothing to do with Rabbi Shimon.

Furthermore, the Edah HaCharedit is giving out a warning that the Reform Movement is planning to build a "Mystic Center" near the Kever. The Tanna himself will turn around in his grave !

The Israeli government is trying to turn our entire country into a Disneyland for Gentile tourists !