We ended our trip visiting our Mama Rochel. How fitting it is. Rochel was buried by Yakov on the side of the road in Beit Lechem. As the midrash states, Rochel continues to pray for her children. When the Temple was being destroyed the souls of Avrohom, Yitzchak, Yakov and Moshe all pleaded to Hashem on Israel’s behalf. Hashem would not listen to them. When Rochel, our mother, approached, she asked Hashem not to be jealous of His nation, just as she was not jealous of her sister, Leah before she married Yakov. G-d listened to Rochel and told her not to cry because her children will return to their land.
When one approaches Kever Rochel it is like driving through a fortress. The government built a buffer of tall walls to allow visitors to safely pray at this site. While this is wonderful, it does ruin the affect of being buried at the side of the road.
Before entering we took advantage of being at our mother’s grave site and said a prayer for the hostages release and the safety of the IDF soldiers protecting our land. It was very meaningful to have time to daven here. In the women’s section there is a beautiful parochet made from the gown on Nava Applebaum. Nava and her father, Dr. Applebaum were murdered in 2003 during a suicide bombing at a café. They were enjoying a cup of coffee together on the night before what was supposed to be Nava’s wedding . The family turned the gown into a curtain that now hangs in Rochel’s grave.
At the grave site there is always hot drinks and refreshments provided by local women. The food provides the feeling of going to your mother’s home and always being welcomed with hot food.
May all of our prayers be answered.