90 Jewish Women Journey from Arab Village to Kever Rachel
A visit to Kever Rachel arouses strong emotions for every Jewish woman. But for the group of 90 who arrived recently, it was especially powerful. These women, rescued from Arab villages by Yad L’Achim, came to Mama Rachel to offer thanks and to plead for Divine assistance for themselves and their children • Read More
A visit to Kever Rachel arouses strong emotions for every Jewish woman. But for the group of 90 who arrived recently, it was especially powerful. These women, rescued from Arab villages by Yad L’Achim, came to Mama Rachel to offer thanks and to plead for Divine assistance for themselves and their children.
In past years, the visit was held on the 11th of Cheshvan, the yahrtzeit of Rachel Imeinu. But the huge crowds that throng the site at that time made it difficult for the women to reach the grave to pour out their hearts.
This year, in light of rabbinic teachings that the unique spiritual resonance of a yahrzeit extends to the surrounding days as well, it was decided to postpone the event by a few days.
The survivors were first brought to Yerushalayim in chartered vehicles that collected them from safe houses across Israel, including Beersheva, Netivot, Sderot, Teverya and Haifa. They were served a festive meal that gave them a chance to meet and draw strength from other women of similar backgrounds.
Rabbanit Orit Salomon addressed the women, focusing her remarks on Rachel Imeinu, the ultimate symbol of maternal compassion, selflessness, and unconditional love. She also spoke of the power of prayer – especially that offered up at a holy place.
The women then boarded a bus to Kever Rachel, where each was given a special prayer booklet, prepared by Yad L’Achim’s publishing department. It contained specific Tehillim selected for them, and their situation in life. The covers were engraved with their names.
Once at the site, the women were able to lean against the tomb and immerse themselves in pure, heartfelt prayer. It was an opportunity to unload their troubles and feel the embrace of Mama Rachel.
On the bus back to Yerushalayim, the survivors shared their feelings with Yad L’Achim’s professional staff.
“I sat and reflected on the immense merit you possess – you, the social workers of Yad L’Achim – and the great privilege that has fallen to us as a result,” said one survivor. “It is as if a plant, which for years was nourished only by the basest kind of fertilizer – hardly even deserving the name ‘organic’ – has suddenly burst into bloom. For months and years, we were all in such distant, far-flung places. And now, here we sit, discussing faith together and arranging to study Torah together over the phone in the days to come. There are no words that can describe the merit you have, you wonderful angels of Yad L’Achim.”
Yad L’Achim echoes the praise of its dedicated social workers and congratulates the organizing team, led by Rabbi Chaim Kahn, Rabbi Yehoshua Klatzkin, Rabbi Motti Levinger, Rabbi Nachman Schoen and Rabbi Eliezer Birnbaum, for an exceptionally successful event.
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