ISRAEL
Arutz Sheva
Arutz Sheva Staff,
02/05/18
Tzfat Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu warned Rabbi Eliezer Berland not to hold a celebratory bonfire at the tomb of the Taanaic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron Wednesday evening.
Thousands of people gathered at Meron, which is near the Galilee city of Tzfat, to celebrate Lag B’Omer Wednesday night.
According to Rabbi Eliyahu, the lighting of the bonfire by the grave of the “Rashbi” would constitute an “abomination” and an “insult” to the revered sage.
Berland, 81, is the founder of the Shuvu Banim yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem and was a prominent figure within the Breslov community. After the allegations of sexual misconduct came to light in 2012, Rabbi Berland fled the country, traveling Europe and Africa while evading arrest and extradition.
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