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6 Ellul 5766 - August 30, 2006 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Over 10,000 Mispallelim Went to Kever Rochel this Summer

by Yonina Hall

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.

 

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