For the second consecutive day on Monday, the government commission investigating the tragedy in Meron on Lag Baomer heard testimony from officials involved in the oversight of Meron in Israel’s north.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the rav of the Kosel and mekomos kedoshim, told the three-member panel that he didn’t know the narrow passageway that was the site of the crush was dangerous. “We didn’t know there was a problem,” he said on Monday. “They didn’t tell us there was an issue with the ‘Dov Bridge.’ Nobody brought it up to us.”
In June, the government approved the formation of an independent state commission of inquiry — composed of Naor, former Bnei Brak mayor Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz and former Israel Defense Forces planning chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Shlomo Yanai — to investigate safety shortcomings at the site.
Rabinovitch served as the head of the Committee of Five charged with overseeing the Mount Meron site. Rabinovitch repeatedly said that the committee was not involved with the planning of events at the site on Lag B’Omer, and did not have the authority to intervene. “If the state had told me that I was responsible for the events of Lag B’Omer, I would have immediately resigned,” he said on Monday.
Read more at Times of Israel.
{Matzav.com}
Okay thanx.
What a chutzpah and disgrace to investigate Rav Rabinovitch !
How dare anyone blame R. Rabinovich if TA ignored him, didn’t ask him for permission, and wouldn’t listen to him?
The public is well aware that the authorities blocked the exit to be able to later blame the chareidim and then take control of the Meron – their goal.