On Tuesday, 10 Sivan, a unique event took place in Kfar
Shunam, an Arab village located near Afula. 13 buses filled
with avreichim headed northward to pray at the house
of the Biblical Shunamite woman, known as a place where
childless Jews go to pour out their hearts to the Ribono
Shel Olom: prayers which are not turned away.
Among those at the site was HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, who noted
that his father, the Steipler Rav, said that this site, where
the novi Elisha prayed for children for the Shunamite
woman, is propitious for such prayers. R' Yaakov Chalofski,
owner of the Netivos Hachessed tour company who organized the
buses, relates that at first only one bus was supposed to
make the trip to Shunam. However, within a short time, news
of the trip to the providential site spread, and hundreds of
avreichim sought to join the excursion.
Shunam is an Arab village in the heart of the scenic Lower
Galil. It is made up of crowded collections of stone homes
separated by narrow alleyways. The village is in the Yizrael
Valley, encircled by the mountains of the Lower Galil.
A thousand chareidi Jews whose prayers pierce the Heavens is
surely an uncommon sight for the villagers. The local
residents raised their eyebrows at the massive flow of
people, as if they did not understand.
HaRav Avrohom Yeshaya Kanievsky told the staff of the
Musaf Shabbos Kodesh of the Yated Ne'eman that
a special prayer sheet was distributed to those who came to
the site. The prayer site is a fenced-in area in the middle
of the village and but otherwise there is no particular
demarcation. It contains a cave whose opening was apparently
sealed by residents of the village.
Until a few years ago, a old house with an attic where --
according to tradition -- the Shunamite woman lived with her
son still remained. However, residents of the village
destroyed the house in order to prevent visitors from coming
to it. Signs of a spring are found there, but two pipes
extending from the ground indicate that local Arabs use it to
water their fields.
The spring was plugged up, but the eyes of those who had come
shed tears like overflowing wells. Approximately 1000 people
came and their voices, united in prayer, became one mighty
voice which pierced the Heavens. People also came in private
cars from all over the country.
Despite the heat, the prayer was poignant, accompanied by
heart-rending tears. In the throng were many who sought to be
blessed with children or to pray for relatives and friends
who still have no children. Their voices resounded in village
homes for a long time, the echo reverberating across the wide
expanses.
A short while after the prayers had begun, a commotion based
on an error erupted in the village. Some of the villagers
thought the event had nationalistic overtones. Youngsters
accompanied by an elderly man shouted at the
avreichim: "This isn't Kiryat Arba," and similar
taunts. Some of the villagers were annoyed by the visit,
since this was the first time so large a group had come,
using loudspeakers. However, most of the villagers greeted
the large throng with respect and understanding.
When the throng began to disperse, the eyes of many seemed
brighter, clearer. A feeling of great relief hovered in the
air.
Shunam: I Was There
by Y. Ben David
I also joined the trip to Shunam. I have friends who need a
yeshua. Indeed, who can say that he doesn't need a
yeshua whether with children, with health, or with
livelihood?
I saw the streams of tears that flowed from the eyes of those
who came to pray. I will never forget it. I saw Jews covering
their faces with books of Tehillim or with the special
pages distributed at the site, their eyes raised toward
Shomayim. At one point I couldn't control myself and I
left the site. That was during the reading of the verse,
"Pnei el tefilas ho'ar'ar, velo bozo es tefilosom --
Hearken to the prayer of the childless one, and do not scorn
their prayers." Oy, Ribono Shel Olam, I mused, look
from Above and see the wails and cries of our children.
Then I recalled the words of the Meshech Chochmo in
the haftorah for parshas Vo'eiro about the
Shunamite: "The main aspect of the reviving of the woman's
dead son was her pure belief in the prophet and her faith
that the tzaddik would revive her son. He revived her
son on this merit. Therefore, it is not written `Hashem
hearkened to Elisha's voice,' as is written in respect to
Eliyahu [since Hashem responded to the pure faith of the
woman]."
I saw a converging of many Jews who yearn for yeshua
and I saw them leave with feelings of relief and happiness.
It is not every day that one has the opportunity to pour out
his heart before the Borei Olam in such a manner."
