The Rabbanut, in its most recent newsletter update, has announced that because Lag BaOmer falls out on Motzei Shabbos, the official lighting of the bonfires will be delayed until Sunday evening, to avoid causing chilul shabbos (of people who might light too early, along with security forces who must prepare for the various events).
In accordance with this decision, the Ministry of Education has changed the Lag BaOmer vacation day from school from Sunday to Monday.
Personally, I think neither day should be a vacation day as Lag Baomer is not a real holiday, parents have work, and I assume kollel, like the regular day it is...
The Rabbanut further stated as part of its decision that people who will light the bonfires on Saturday night, whether in Meron or elsewhere, despite the Rabbanut decision, should not do so before 10:30 pm.
Some are blaming the expected colossal failure of the public transportation system to Meron on this decision of the Rabbanut. How so? By pushing off Lag Baomer, and therefore changing the school vacation day to Monday, that means the private and public buses that are normally used to take children to school will still be needed to take those kids to school on Sunday, and will not be available for use in transportation to Meron on Saturday night and Sunday. Egged cannot make up that shortfall from other sources.
And God forbid they should change the date of a fake holiday to avoid chilul shabbos, so they prefer to create a disaster on Saturday night and Sunday and blame the government...
Religion Magazine
