A place of pilgrimage since the late 15th century,[2] it is today the second-most-visited Jewish site in the world after the Western Wall[3] with as many as two million annual visitors.

[7] According to historian Elhanan Reiner, the tomb was managed by Musta'arabi Jews even before the expulsion from Spain and establishment of the Spanish Jewish community in Israel in the 16th century.

Appeals to the courts have failed to settle the issue and the feud has allowed very little development to take place resulting in substandard facilities and safety concerns, the structure surrounding the tomb having become old and neglected.

[16] According to a modern Kabbalistic tradition, a pilgrimage is made to the tomb on Lag baOmer to mark either Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's "Yom Hillula" or the anniversary of his death.

Various government bodies invest considerable sums of money and manpower resources to maintain order and ensure the flow of traffic to the site.

It is popularly believed that if one donates or offers 18 rotels of liquid refreshment (grape juice, wine, soda or even water) to those attending the celebrations at bar Yochai's tomb on Lag BaOmer, then the giver will be granted miraculous salvation.

The Bobover Rav, Ben Zion Halberstam sent a letter from Poland to his Chassidim in Israel asking them to donate chai rotel in Meron on this holy day on behalf of a couple that did not have children.

Nine months after Lag BaOmer, the Ohel Rashbi organization even invites couples who prayed at the tomb and had a child to come back to Meron to celebrate the births.