More Than 50,000 Expected to Visit Rachel´s Tomb

More Than 50,000 Expected to Visit Rachel´s Tomb
19:17 Oct 31, '06 / 9 Cheshvan 5767
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz



More than 50,000 people are expected to visit the tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem this Thursday, the anniversary of the Biblical matriarch's death.


Security in the area from Jerusalem to the tomb, recently transferred from the IDF's jurisdiction to that of the police, will be increased to ensure the safety of the worshipers. The fortified security arrangements will be put into effect beginning Wednesday afternoon and will last through Thursday night. In the past, Palestinian Authority terrorists have fired at Jews visiting the religiously and historically significant site.

In addition, the increased police presence will oversee and maintain the flow of traffic to and from Rachel's tomb. The Egged public transportation company will provide buses running every few minutes from various Jerusalem neighborhoods to the Bethlehem site.

With the transfer of responsibility for the tomb and its immediate environs from the military to the Jerusalem civilian authorities in September, Mayor Uri Lupolianski directed the municipality to provide services there. To that end, the capital's sanitation service has prepared the tomb complex for the expected wave of visitors this week and has also begun expanding services to the site on a regular basis.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Uri Maklev has arranged for a large visitors tent to be set up at an intersection on the way to Rachel's tomb, along with a supply of drinking water. At the tomb site itself, drinks and snacks will be provided, as well.

In honor of the anniversary of the passing of the matriarch Rachel, the city of Jerusalem is this week hosting dozens of lectures and activities geared towards women. The events are sponsored by the Torah Culture Department of the municipality.

The Biblical Rachel died on the 11th of Cheshvan of the year 2208 in the Jewish calendar (1553 BCE) while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Rachel's tomb, in Bethlehem, has served as a place of prayer for Jews for more than 35 centuries.
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Leah is the mother of Judah

I'm grateful that the Jews (children of LEAH) have preserved Kever Rachel since most descendants of Joseph (and Benjamin) - Rachel's sons - remain oblivious to their Israelite origins and also suffer identity theft by Indian converts to Judaism. The Anglo-Saxons are Joes who are prophesied to reconcile and reunite with Judah.

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