Israeli news

[LongTimeLurker]

Lets please remember that Lag BaOmer is dangerous whenever it is. There are fires and people get hurt every year. Lets try to understand that the firemen hate having to guard throughout the country because of all these fires.

 we don't hate the fires and we're fine with them if they're done in reasonable places at a reasonable size. Otherwise they get out of control and then it becomes a problem.

But Minhag Yisrael is to make bonfires L'Kuvid R' Shimon... so that's what we do with all the risks.

Never have I seen modern Israel charedi hashkafa defined in a  so well in a nutshell

[Moshe Green]

we don't hate the fires and we're fine with them if they're done in reasonable places at a reasonable size. Otherwise they get out of control and then it becomes a problem.

That's why all cities have rules of where to make the fires. It's basic common sense (although I can't say that common sense is so common). But to outlaw bonfires is simply wrong.

Never have I seen modern Israel charedi hashkafa defined in a  so well in a nutshell

I don't think it's Israeli or modern or Chareidi but the Torah way.
We fast even though it may be unhealthy, we learn Torah even at the "expense" of making money, we eat unhealthy foods as well. But we understand that,
a) this is just a temporary world and the real world is just 120 years away and
b) Hashem will help if we do the right thing (or at least שומר פסעים השם)

[LongTimeLurker]

The צו נציב does not outlaw bonfires. It explicitly allows for them them in prepared places that are created either by the municipality, kkl or the parks authority and is approved by the fire department.

[Moshe Green]

The צו נציב does not outlaw bonfires. It explicitly allows for them them in prepared places that are created either by the municipality, kkl or the parks authority and is approved by the fire department.

  Israel National News
Israel bans bonfires - including on Lag Ba'omer, due to risk of wildfires

Israel bans bonfires - including on Lag Ba'omer, due to risk of wildfires
Israel Fire and Rescue Authority bans bonfires nationwide due to extreme weather conditions.

  May 8, 2025, 11:38 AM (GMT+3)

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Commissioner, Chief Fire Officer Eyal Caspi, has signed an emergency order banning the lighting of bonfires and open fires across the country due to extreme weather conditions that significantly increase the risk of wildfires.

The order takes effect Thursday and will remain in force until Saturday, May 18, including and affecting the Lag Ba’omer holiday. The ban applies to all open areas and includes bonfires, burning of vegetation and trimmings, and any technical work that may cause ignition.

The Fire and Rescue Authority emphasized that the coming days are expected to bring heatwave conditions posing a serious risk that fires will ignite and spread, particularly in open areas, forests, and woodlands.

This was the article.
I'm happy that you are saying that the article is dead wrong.

[LongTimeLurker]

[aygart]

This was the article.
I'm happy that you are saying that the article is dead wrong.

So I presume that now you will push everyone to make sure to only have properly arranged fires

[Moshe Green]

So I presume that now you will push everyone to make sure to only have properly arranged fires

Yes.
I will definitely make sure that if my kids want to make a fire they will both set it up only 5 minutes before lighting so it doesn't get taken away by the municipality and also make sure its safe and won't burn down the city.
Just like i do every year.
And just like most people would do.

[aygart]

Yes.
I will definitely make sure that if my kids want to make a fire they will both set it up only 5 minutes before lighting so it doesn't get taken away by the municipality and also make sure its safe and won't burn down the city.
Just like i do every year.
And just like most people would do.

There is a minhag for each child to make their own fire?

[JMHO]

Yes.
I will definitely make sure that if my kids want to make a fire they will both set it up only 5 minutes before lighting so it doesn't get taken away by the municipality and also make sure its safe and won't burn down the city.
Just like i do every year.
And just like most people would do.

5 minutes before? Collecting the wood and building it in advance is half the fun!

[yelped]

That's why all cities have rules of where to make the fires. It's basic common sense (although I can't say that common sense is so common). But to outlaw bonfires is simply wrong.
  I don't think it's Israeli or modern or Chareidi but the Torah way.
We fast even though it may be unhealthy, we learn Torah even at the "expense" of making money, we eat unhealthy foods as well. But we understand that,
a) this is just a temporary world and the real world is just 120 years away and
b) Hashem will help if we do the right thing (or at least שומר פסעים השם)

You should go see a doctor. Don't put your shitisim (maybe darkei emori while were at it) into the Torah.

[Moshe Green]

5 minutes before? Collecting the wood and building it in advance is half the fun!

100%
So the way you do it is you stock the wood in a secret hideaway and then 5 minutes before you light it you quickly set it up. If you set it up too early then the municipal garbage truck takes the wood away.
Some Kehillos make their bonfire together, others have a separate one for each class or neighborhood, others do a private bonfire.
Lag Baomer gives the kids who love making fires a Kosher outlet.

[aygart]

So much for the minhag.

[gozalim]

Love that combo of שומר פתאים ה with מה מצעדי גבר כוננו into שומר פסעים ה

[Moshe Green]

So much for the minhag.

We aren't Chasidish. For us its fun.
But for Klal Yisroel its a minhag.

[aygart]

We aren't Chasidish. For us its fun.
But for Klal Yisroel its a minhag.

Okay glad you are clear that all of your discussion of being moser nefesh for this supposed minhag was a bunch of bunk.

[yfr bachur]

We aren't Chasidish. For us its fun.
But for Klal Yisroel its a minhag.

i.e. for rov minyan ubinyan of the country it's just Israeli culture.
You could have just coped to it when I pointed it out

Ye, in Meron.
All the others are more or less chareidi "israeli culture" without much of a mekor, especially if you are litvish.
And I really don't think that the level of "inyan" there is in making a bonfire is worth the chance of burning down my town...

My twelfth grade rebbe used to hammer home a point to use, It's been a while so I'm going to have to paraphrase his

Whatever you do, you need to why, and what you are doing it, (and by extension, what it is docheh, and how much you are moser nefesh for it)
Is it a deoraisa or derabanan?
Aseh or lo saase?
Minhag Yisroel or Inyan?
etc

[Moshe Green]

Okay glad you are clear that all of your discussion of being moser nefesh for this supposed minhag was a bunch of bunk.

Wow! Big jump ya did there.

From moser nefesh for a "supposed" minhag to a bunch of bunk...

This "supposed" minhag is Minhag Yisroel and you can find it in old Sefarim.
Being Moser Nefesh for Minhagim is something Klal Yisroel does. And will continue doing even when the Zionists try to stop us.
 
Perhaps you forgot to take your meds and that's why you are so grumpy but it seems like you need to up the dose because you always sound this way... good luck!

[Chilla]

(How 'bout a poll for who 'always' comes through as grumpy- @aygart , or @Moshe Green ? 🤣🤣🤣)

[yfr bachur]

Wow! Big jump ya did there.

From moser nefesh for a "supposed" minhag to a bunch of bunk...

This "supposed" minhag is Minhag Yisroel and you can find it in old Sefarim.
Being Moser Nefesh for Minhagim is something Klal Yisroel does. And will continue doing even when the Zionists try to stop us.
 
Perhaps you forgot to take your meds and that's why you are so grumpy but it seems like you need to up the dose because you always sound this way... good luck!

How old is the first mekor for this supposed "minhag yisroel"?
and what does that mekor say that the "minhag" is?

[Moshe Green]

How old is the first mekor for this supposed "minhag yisroel"?
and what does that mekor say that the "minhag" is?

nice article here:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2579614/jewish/The-History-of-Lag-BaOmer.htm

The first documented account of the custom of visiting Meron on Lag BaOmer is found in a fascinating letter by Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinoro (15th–16th centuries), leader of the Jewish community in Israel, famous for his commentary on the Mishnah. He describes the day succinctly: “On the 18th day of the month of Iyar [the day of Lag BaOmer], the anniversary of [Rabbi Shimon’s] passing, Jews from all the surrounding areas gather in Meron, where they light large fires and celebrate . . . Many barren couples conceive, and many sick are healed, in the merit of the charity they give on this day to the upkeep of the gravesite.”