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.
