Jerusalem and Israeli Heritage Minister Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) on Monday morning spoke about the preparations for the upcoming Lag Ba’omer celebrations in Meron.
“The issue of arrival at Meron is comprised of a large number of things,” Porush told Kol Hai Radio. “If there is a mistake in one place – everything is messed up. We need to pray that everything will be as it should be, and hope that things go smoothly.”
“What we are doing is making everyone aspire to do something better than what was. A large number of people will be able to come in. Everyone will do his part, with the hope that it will be better.”
Regarding last year’s Lag Ba’omer events, Porush said, “In the end, the one who managed it was not a person who grew up in the haredi community and lived its sensitivities. If we succeed – they will see that haredim can also manage a project like this. This will certainly influence other issues regarding the views of haredim in Israel.”

Regarding the Draft Law, Porush said, “It must go in a good direction. I very much want to hope that there will be a plan which allows those who learn to learn, and those who do not, to choose for themselves what to do.”
He added, “When [MK Benny] Gantz was Defense Minister, he agreed to things that [MK Yair] Lapid did not – such as leaving the quotas out of the law.”
“The draft issue is not regulated because everyone leaves it to the other,” Porush emphasized. “We cannot enlist the haredim. Whoever is learning is not going to the army. Whoever does not want to learn – it’s his choice.”