“Don’t Give Up”: A Meron Father’s Powerful Message Five Years Later

Five years have passed since the Meron tragedy shook the Jewish world on Lag B’Omer, leaving families forever changed and an entire nation grieving. As many recently marked Lag B’Omer once again, memories of that devastating night resurfaced for survivors and families still carrying its pain every day.

One of those families is the Berger family. Their son, Elazar, was critically injured in the disaster and remains severely impaired. In a moving interview with Srugim, his father, Dov Berger, shared the terrifying moments of that night and the long journey that followed.

“He Was So Excited to Go to Meron”

Dov recalls that his son had been asking for months to attend the Lag B’Omer celebrations in Meron and specifically wanted to participate in the Toldos Aharon hadlaka.

“When we arrived in Meron, he was overjoyed,” Dov shared. “As the bus climbed the mountain, everyone started singing.”

But the joy quickly turned into horror.

“As we climbed what later became known as the ‘path of death,’ it became frighteningly crowded,” he recalled. “Then suddenly, in the final meters, a massive human wave hit us. Elazar slipped out of my hand, and I couldn’t find him.”

The scene around him was pure chaos. People were crushed together, piled on top of one another, while desperate cries filled the air.

“I kept shouting, ‘Where is Elazar?’” he said.

Searching for His Son in the Chaos

While Elazar was being evacuated to the hospital, his father still had no idea whether his son was alive.

“I saw medical teams giving chest compressions to a child,” Dov recalled. “I couldn’t see his face clearly. I tried to tell them it was my son, but in all the noise and confusion, no one heard me.”

Dov fought his way through the crushing crowd and rushed toward the hospital in Safed. Only at 7:00 in the morning did he finally learn that Elazar was alive, though critically injured.

A Long Road of Rehabilitation

The years since the tragedy have been filled with painful challenges, but also moments of hope.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Dov said. “There are ups and downs all the time.”

After extensive rehabilitation and treatment, Elazar slowly began showing small signs of response.

“When we ask him to close his eyes, he slowly closes them,” his father explained. “There’s partial communication now, though it takes tremendous effort. And then one day, after several more months, he smiled. That was a huge moment for us.”

Today, Elazar still struggles greatly with speech, swallowing, and basic daily functioning, but his father describes him as a fighter.

“He’s a hero,” Dov said. “He’s fighting to communicate. Fighting to swallow. He understands what we want from him, and he wants so badly to do it, but he still cannot fully respond. We believe more progress will come.”

“Don’t Give Up”

When asked what message he hopes people take from his family’s story, Dov answered with remarkable faith and perspective.

“First of all, pray,” he said, asking people to pray for the recovery of Yosef Azriel ben Chaya Michal and Elazar ben Reuma, two boys who traveled to Meron healthy and returned in critical condition.

Then he shared a message that has carried his family through years of hardship:

“Don’t give up. In almost every situation, a person can focus on what is missing and complain endlessly. But there is also a half full cup. Look at that side. For every small thing you can thank Hashem for, say thank you. Don’t cling to the bad. Hold on to the good.”

A Message That Continues to Inspire

Five years after the Meron disaster, stories like Elazar’s continue to remind people not only of the tragedy itself, but also of the extraordinary faith, resilience, and gratitude shown by families living with its aftermath every single day.

As another Lag B’Omer passes, Dov Berger’s words remain a powerful reminder to appreciate every small blessing, strengthen our prayers for others, and never lose hope, even during life’s most difficult moments.