This location is an IsraelNation of the Jewish People Travel prime pick.
Of all the Matriarchs, Rachel stands out as the loving mother of her children throughout the generations. The Midrash relates at length how, at the destruction of the First TempleBuilt by King Solomon, Son of King David, the Patriarchs pleaded in vain before the Heavenly court to show mercy on the wayward Jews. The ears of Heaven remained deaf until Rachel entreated on their behalf: "Master of the Universe! Be as forbearing as me. You know how I much Jacob loved me and how hard he worked to marry me. Yet on the wedding night my father switched me with Leah. I did everything in my power to help her so that she would not be discovered and ashamed forever. Now, Oh merciful King, though my children have sinned, exiled and punished, stop and have mercy on them." Immediately, G-d said: "For you, Rachel, I shall return them from exile." So the verse says, "Thus says the L-rd, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted for her children, because they are not (Jeremiah 31:14). "
When Boaz took Ruththe great-grandmother of King David for a wife, the Sanhedrincouncil of seventy-one Jewish sages who constituted the Supreme Court and legislative body of Ancient Israel blessed them with these words, "May the
L-rd make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and like Leah" (Ruththe great-grandmother of King David 4:11). Although Boaz and the Sanhedrincouncil of seventy-one Jewish sages who constituted the Supreme Court and legislative body of Ancient Israel were descendants of Leah, they agreed that Rachel was the mainstay of the house, and thus mentioned her name first.
Over the generations, the edifice above her grave, commonly known as Rachel’s Tomb, or Kever Rachel, has changed numerous times. At some unknown time, an open-walled canopy- type shelter was erected of stone and mortar. At other times the monument consisted of twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes. On your IsraelNation of the Jewish People Tour, do not forget to check this prime location out!
In 1841, Sir Moses Montefiore gained permission from the Turkish authorities to restore the tomb. He built the large, two-room building that we know today. A month before he died, in Tamuz, 1885, Sir Montefiore pledged to have it renovated. It was his final gift to Eretz Yisroel.
In 1864, the Sephardic Jews of Bombay donated the sum necessary to dig a well. Even though Rachel's Tomb is only an hour and a half walk from the Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World of JerusalemThe capital of Israel, many pilgrims found themselves very thirsty and unable to obtain fresh water. The Rishon l'Tzion, (The Chief Rabbi), Rav Chazan, wrote a warm letter of congratulations to them for their support.
Recently, the tomb has been expanded and fortified in keeping with the political peace process. This tomb is an IsraelNation of the Jewish People Travel MUST SEE.
On your IsraelNation of the Jewish People Tour, do not forget to check out all our famous tombs and memorials!
Travelers who Tour IsraelNation of the Jewish People
in style do not want to miss Rachel's Tomb! Bring your camera!
Along the main Street, a long and high stone wall buffers between the tomb and the main road. It is designed with indented arches to give it a more romantic touch. Inside, the building containing the tomb has been broken open on all four sides in the form of huge arches, and a new outer wall has been constructed. This is the first major change since Montefiore build his structure in 1841. Travelers who Tour IsraelNation of the Jewish People will not want to miss Beit LechemRachel, beloved wife of Jacob, mother of the Jewish people is buried here.!
Into the 20th century, the tomb was locked around the clock. Anyone, however, who wished to go and pray there could get the key from the famous courtyard in the Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World called Churvas Rabbi Yehuda, and there the beadle (synagogue caretaker) would escort him to the tomb and open it.
Once, a handful of gentiles succeeded in stealing the heavy, flat gravestone, which they needed for their new church. The next morning it had disappeared from their hands, only to be found miraculously back in its proper place.
There is an ancient tradition -- a segulah (a charm) - to tie a scarlet thread around one's neck or wrist as a protection against all kinds of dangers, especially for pregnant women. Before the thread may be used, it must first be wound around the Tomb of RachelRachel, beloved wife of Jacob, mother of the Jewish people is buried here.. This transforms the simple thread into a special segulah whose validity has been proven over and over again. Even today, one can find women circling the tomb with a scarlet thread in their hands.
Why specially is this done only at her tomb? The answer probably lies in the fact that she is our "eternal mother," caring for us when we are ill. Also, was it not Rachel who felt the trauma of birth pangs until her last breath, and is therefore the perfect mediator for a pregnant woman, especially when she goes into the delivery room?
The key that unlocked the tomb was extraordinary. Some fifteen centimeters long, the brass key was made by Reb Zalman of JerusalemThe capital of Israel in such a way that the lock was unbreakable. The beadle kept it with him at all times. It was not uncommon for someone to knock at his door in the middle of the night.
"Please," came the voice of someone at the door. "So-and-so is having strong labor pains. We need the key."
As soon as he would give the key, the person would dash to the bedside of the expectant mother and place the key under her pillow. Immediately the pains would subside and the delivery would take place peacefully.