Record numbers of mispallelim streamed to Kever Rachel
on erev Rosh Chodesh Elul and all summer long.
Thousands attended the Yom Kippur Koton tefilloh last
Wednesday, according to Rav Moshe Menachem Kluger, director
of Mosdos Kever Rachel, which sponsors regular
tefillos, the daily recital of Sefer Tehillim,
and round-the-clock kollelim at the site.
To maintain strict standards of tznius, organizers
opened all the entrances to the kever, allowing men
and women to enter separately. The Mosdos also distributed
special booklets printed with Yom Kippur Koton, along with
drinks and refreshments.
The month of Av broke all records for attendance. The Mosdos
doubled the number of buses it usually provides from
Yerushalayim to help accommodate close to 10,000 local
residents, yeshiva and cheder students, tourists and
northern war refugees who went there to daven.
"Throughout the summer we saw the special connection between
Am Yisroel and Mama Rochel," Rav Kluger observed. "The
war in Lebanon and the tragedies that have struck our
community in recent months brought out more than double the
number of mispallelim who usually come during this
time, to pray for acheinu kol beis Yisroel. Many
families told us that their children especially benefited
from their visit."
To sweeten the experience, the Mosdos served free ices to all
the children and cake and drinks to the adults.
Massive Yom Tefilloh
The summer influx at Kever Rochel began on erev Rosh
Chodesh Av, when the Mosdos organized a massive yom
tefilloh that drew thousands of people from all over the
country.
Graced by the presence of Admorim and Rabbonim, the event
also attracted residents of northern Israel who fled their
homes due to Katyusha rocket attacks. With kivrei
tzaddikim in Meron and Tzfas effectively off-limits,
Kever Rochel became the rallying point for an outpouring of
prayers and bakoshos for Klal Yisroel.
The huge gathering erev Rosh Chodesh Elul opened with
tekias shofar and the recital of the Yud-Gimmel
Middos. Many mispallelim were visibly moved to
tears as they cried out for rachamei Shomayim. Then
the entire Sefer Tehillim was recited in unison, line
by line. Afterwards, a Rosh Chodesh seudah was served
to all who wished to participate.
For this special event, the Mosdos arranged bus
transportation from all over Yerushalayim and free
bulletproof buses from the Kever Rochel checkpoint. Over its
years of operation at the kever, the Mosdos has
developed a close relationship with the soldiers who protect
the site, and smoothly coordinated all the logistics in
tandem with army officials.
Bein Hazmanim Guests
During the three-week bein hazmanim, attendance at the
kever was also graced by prominent out-of-town
visitors. HaRav Moshe Wolfson, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Torah
Vodaas of Brooklyn, brought his talmidim from New York
and Eretz Yisroel here for a shmuess, followed by
spirited singing and dancing. Another day, the Rebbe of
Modzhitz arrived with his chassidim for
tefillos and heartfelt niggunim.
Mosdos Kever Rachel continues to operate its 24-hour
bakoshos hotline for the benefit of Jews around the
world. Every name received from the hotline is mentioned
during prayers at the kever by members of the on-site
kollelim. In Israel, call (02) 580-0863 or fax (02)
582- 6893. In New York, call 1-888-2ROCHEL (1-888-276-2435).
Kvittlach may also be sent to P.O. Box 41118,
Jerusalem, Israel 91410.
