The hillside Upper Galilee town of Meron will be closed to the usual huge crowd of celebrants from Saturday night, May 25, through Sunday, May 26, due to security risks from Hezbollah terrorists on Lag Ba’Omer—the 33rd day of the daily counting between Passover and Shavuot. However, celebrations will nevertheless be marked around the country with bonfires and dancing.
Many people ordinarily go to the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yohai, the Mishnaic sage who died on that day about 1,800 years ago, to pray and light bonfires. The event also marks when a plague that swept through the students of the sage Rabbi Akiva ended, and mourning customs ceased.
The Health and Environmental Protection ministries have urged those who celebrate to ensure safety and health and protect the environment. Health Minister Uriel Bosso warned that “bonfires can be dangerous to public health and the environment. Everyone must follow the safety procedures and obey the instructions to avoid unnecessary harm. I call on parents to remain vigilant.”
Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman added that “this year too, and especially now, we must protect the environment and the health of ourselves and our children. Alternative activities like family walks in nature should replace family gatherings polluting the environment.”
Health and safety guidelines
In addition, in preparation for the hot weather conditions at 30°C (86°F) and higher that raise the risk of fires igniting and spreading, the Fire and Rescue Services commissioner signed an order allowing bonfires to be lit only in places that have been prepared for this purpose by the local authority and have received fire department approval. The order includes a ban on lighting fires in parks, Jewish National Fund/KKL forests, and nature reserves.
According to Environmental Protection Ministry data, last year saw a decrease in air pollution on the holiday compared to previous years. This trend has been evident in recent years thanks to the call by fire and rescue forces, the ministries, and various authorities to hold alternative social activities. It seems that there has been an increase in public awareness to avoid burning trees and lighting fires.
However, last year there were still high particle concentrations compared to a clear day in most of the cities and towns, and the maximum concentrations measured were 14 times that of a clear day without bonfires.
Children are the most sensitive population in terms of the effects of air pollutants on the respiratory tract. When wood burns, concentrations of respirable particles that are extremely dangerous to human health are released into the air, as well as large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that causes global warming. This presents itself by an increase in the number of children and even adults brought to hospital emergency rooms due to damage in the larynx and on other parts of the body.
If you do go to a bonfire, never steal wooden pallets from construction sites. Never throw objects, including utensils, made from plastic and Styrofoam or spray cans into the fire. The burning of these substances, and gas and fuel, can cause explosions and the emission of toxic substances that can cause cancer and is accompanied by bad odors. Don’t throw stones or pieces of glass into the fire as they can also explode.
SOLID WOOD substitutes made with melamine, MDF and Formica should not be burned, as they contain various adhesives, and emit particles and fumes into the air when they are burned that contain dangerous substances. Likewise, don’t throw painted or varnished wood into the fire.
Place the campfire in an area free of thorns and weeds, at a reasonably safe distance from buildings and facilities. Do not light a fire under electricity and telephone lines, or near trees and bushes or fuel facilities.
Avoid using plastic utensils and plates that will be used for only five minutes but will remain in the environment for hundreds of years.
Bring trash bags with you to the campfire and leave a clean place behind. Separate the recyclable waste such as bottles and packaging, and if there is no bin nearby, take the trash with you to the nearest bin.
Appoint a responsible adult to be present when setting up the bonfire, from the stage of collecting the branches to its completion. Don’t leave the children unattended even for a moment. Planks must not have metal nails sticking out that can cause serious injury.
Wear high-top shoes, long pants and a suitable shirt to protect your body from stings and embers, as well as the bites of snakes and scorpions that are attracted to the heat of the fire.
Bring a first-aid kit and keep two full buckets of water near the bonfire in case it spreads.
Don’t sit close to the fire and not in the direction from where the smoke is blowing to avoid injury to the respiratory tract, eyes and face.
Broiling potatoes and onions on skewers should be done only by adults. Before serving them to children, make sure they are not too hot to eat, as very hot food can cause severe burns in the mouth and esophagus.
In the event of a fire, try to extinguish it immediately and if you can’t, call Fire and Rescue at 102.
Have a happy and safe Lag Ba’Omer!