Lighting Candles for the Meron 45

Shortly after 45 Jews were crushed to death at a Lag Ba’Omer festival in Mount Meron, Israel announced that Sunday would be a national day of mourning. Israelis across the country, including secular Jews, lit candles for the ultra-Orthodox worshipers who perished at the festival.

The finality of death concentrates the mind. On that day of national mourning, all of Israel grieved and lit candles. The unspeakable loss of so many human lives transcended all differences, ideological or otherwise. Commissions of inquiry will and must be established to understand what happened, but on that one day at least, it was the grieving that mattered.

So, on Monday, I wondered: How are we grieving here in America?

My first instinct was to write a column expressing our collective grief and solidarity with our Israeli brethren. But the more I wrote, the more I realized that words were not enough– even poignant, powerful words. Shouldn’t we do a little more to honor the memories of those who perished?

Perhaps inspired by the day of mourning and candle lighting in Israel, an idea popped into my head: Why not invite 45 people to each light a candle in honor of one of the victims?

Perhaps inspired by the day of mourning and candle lighting in Israel, an idea popped into my head: Why not invite 45 people to each light a candle in honor of one of the victims?

I ran the idea by a few friends and colleagues, and the reactions were unanimous: “Great idea, I’m in.” I called my friend Roz Rothstein of StandWithUs, and they gladly agreed to co-sponsor.

Then the real work started — putting the actual event together and finding 45 people to honor the victims. We reached out to as broad a group as possible with a simple request: Film yourself on a smartphone lighting a candle for a victim and add some words of comfort. Send us the clip, and we’ll do the rest.

On Thursday, May 13, at 6PM, PST, you can see the results. We will webcast on the Jewish Journal website a virtual ceremony where 45 people will take turns honoring one of the worshipers who lost their lives in Meron. We also will encourage viewers to light their own candles.

We hope the ceremony will serve as a legacy to their memory, and as a reminder that, in the end, recognizing the value of human life is what truly unites us.

Shabbat shalom.

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