Hundreds of Thousands Visit Rachel's Tomb for Annual Commemoration
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis visited Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem for its annual commemoration, a tradition thousands of years old. The pilgrimage, which lasted from Wednesday evening to Friday night, saw attendees rely on public transport due to road closures. Special prayer services were held, and the tomb's institutions distributed nearly 100,000 meals and thousands of prayer kits. The event was described as running smoothly and safely due to extensive preparations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hundreds of thousands of Israelis visited Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem for its annual commemoration.
- The pilgrimage lasted from Wednesday evening to Friday night, drawing large crowds.
- Public transportation was utilized due to road closures, with a new directive requiring a walk to the tomb.
- The Rachel's Tomb institutions organized special prayer services and distributed nearly 100,000 meals.
- The event was reported to have run smoothly and safely without incident.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis visited Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem for the annual commemoration of the matriarch's yahrzeit (anniversary of death), continuing a tradition spanning thousands of years. The pilgrimage began on Wednesday evening, the eve of the 11th of Cheshvan, and continued through Friday night. Due to road closures for private vehicles, attendees relied on public transportation, which ran continuously from Teddy Stadium to the tomb complex. This year, a new directive required all public transport passengers to disembark before the "yellow gate," necessitating a walk to the tomb itself. In response, the Rachel's Tomb institutions organized a special "pleasant path" for worshippers. The institutions' "Salvation Center 8631*" reported handling calls from hundreds of thousands worldwide who submitted names for prayers. Special prayer services were held throughout the day, led by yeshiva students headed by Rabbi Moshe Menachem Kluger, involving recitations of the entire Book of Psalms, shofar blasts, and prayers for mercy. The prayers culminated at sunset on the yahrzeit with the closing of the gates, following 24 hours of continuous prayer and supplication for redemption. The complex's hospitality center distributed nearly 100,000 meals, cakes, and drinks during the event, along with tens of thousands of "travel kits" and prayer booklets. The institutions praised Rabbi Eyal Attia, the complex's manager, the production company, and all involved for their efforts in ensuring the event ran smoothly and safely, without incident, for the hundreds of thousands of worshippers.
Mentioned
