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http://keverrachel.iconstudiosny.com/11-cheshvon-2018/#yeshuos For thousands of years, Jews have unburdened their hearts to Rachel Imeinu - and had their prayers answerd. The Barren were blessed with children, The sick were cured, The single found shiduchim And the broken-hearted found solace and peace. Rachel's Tomb, a site sacred to Jews for many generations, is managed and maintained exclusively by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the National Center for holy places. WHAT IS HER SECRET? When the Bais Hamikdosh was destroyed, Moshe Rabbeinu, the Avos, along with the Imahos stormed the heavens, and pleaded with Hashem to bring the Jews back to Eretz Yisroel. But, the Jews had sinned - and the almighty sealed the judgment against them. And though Avraham, Yitzchok, Yaakov and Moshe tried, though they spoke of the great things they had done in their lives, the gates of mercy were sealed tight. UNTIL RACHEL AROSE. In her merit - in the merit of her love to her sister Leah, and in the merit of her refusal to shame her at great personal sacrifice - The Almighty annulled His decree. To her Hashem said - מנעי קולך מבכי - stop crying, because your prayers have been heard. And they continue to be heard, to this day. In late 2000 and often during 2001 and early 2002, there were shooting incidents near the tomb that closed the site for much of that time, once again bringing Jewish visitation to a trickle. The tomb was reopened in about 2003, and a security wall was constructed around its periphery, but few at first made the journey. Then a Jewish Israeli couple, Rabbi Moshe M. and Mrs. Bluma Kluger, personally intervened. They founded Rachel's Tomb Institute (Mosdos Kever Rachel), a group consisting of the Klugers, and a few volunteers, that has facilitated tens of thousands of visits to the tomb. Rabbi Kluger engaged in a fund-raising campaign and also took out personal loans to fund five private, bullet-proof buses per weekday that make stops throughout Jerusalem for those wanting to pray at the tomb. The buses have been running since!, and bring in approximately 100,000 visitors each year. The Israeli public-transportation system restarted service to the area, but many feel more comfortable in bullet-proof busing. (NOTE: Because of today's security improvement, bullet proof buses are no longer needed) The Klugers can be found daily at Rachel's tomb, routinely escorting new visitors who say they are nervous about traveling into the Palestinian neighborhood. Mosdos Kever Rachel also renewed learning at Rachel's Tomb by helping to establish a Yeshiva, which offers daily classes and leads prayer services in the afternoons and evenings. Mosdos Kever Rachel holds special events each month for the general public and personally serve food to Israeli soldiers stationed at and around the tomb area. Mosdos Kever Rachel has raised some money, but has gone into substantial debt with bus payments nearing several hundred thousand dollars. They say the satisfaction of keeping the tomb alive is more than worth their monetary efforts. "Thankfully, Rachel's Tomb is busy again and cannot be put aside or given up," The institute also opened a hotline in Israel and in U.S.(1-888-2ROCHEL (76-2435), taking calls 24-hours-a-day from those around the world in need of a prayer at the tomb. Individuals can sponsor a day, week or month of learning, or the recital of the entire Sefer Tehillim in their honor.
