Over 7,000 trips to Meron will be operated by the various public transportation services for participants in the Lag B'Omer festivities to take place next week. This major travel project, the biggest in Israel each year, will be carried out by 1,500 buses operating from thirty central depots throughout the country via 25 different public transportation routes. These buses will go all the way to the area of the Meron grave site.
Public transportation lines will be operated from Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Ashdod, Haifa, Hatzor, Netanya, Teverya, Tsefat, Elad, Beit Shemesh, Beitar, Kiryat Sefer, Afula, Kiryat Gat and Rechasim.
The Transportation Ministry will organize free shuttle service using 100 buses from the Ein Hozim and Farod parking areas to the tomb site for those arriving by private bus companies.
Reaching the area of the Rashbi grave site will be made possible only via buses and those coming in private vehicles will be sent to one of the following parking areas: Carmiel, Hatzor or Tzivon, from where they will be able to reach the grave site only through public transportation for payment.
In an interview with Rabbi Yosef Schvinger, the head of the National Authority for the Holy Places, we asked: One cannot help asking the time-worn question: when will the access to Meron be upgraded for greater efficiency and amenity to the public?
A: That is a good question which is being discussed all the time and is waiting for the budgetary approvals for this very purpose. At least this year, for the first time, people traveling to Meron will be able to see the widening of the highway at the Golan junction to four lanes in both directions, which will surely ease the pressure. There are concrete plans for improving and creating new means of access. The Interior Minister, Rabbi Arye Deri, has created an overall overhaul program for easier access to all the holy sites in the Galil, including the tombs of Yonasan ben Uziel in Amuka, Rabi Akiva and the Rambam in Tiveria, and, of course, the tomb of Rashbi in Meron. The subject is being discussed all the time and I hope that in the near future the hoped-for change will take place.
