The Ohel
During our long history, the holy resting places of our righteous fore bearers have served as a spiritual oasis in times both joyous and sad. The grave sites of our patriarchs and matriarchs, as well as that of our Matriarch Rachel and King David, are referred to in the Bible and Talmud and Torah's esoteric works, as places of prayer, reflection and introspection, and have provided solace to millions throughout the generations.

One of the more commonly known episodes of seeking out the intervention of the Patriarchs is related in the Talmud, concerning Caleb - one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to check out the promised land after the Jewish people's exodus from Egypt - who paused in Hebron at the graves of the Patriarchs and asked them to arouse heavenly mercy to save him from becoming embroiled in the spies' unfortunate plot.

Praying at the Ohel
Today, thousands of people from all around the world from all walks of life and all shades of the spectrum come to the Ohel, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson's, of blessed memory, resting place, at all hours of the day and night, to pray to G-d, to ask for intervention, to receive inspiration, blessing and guidance.

"The righteous are greater in death than during their lifetime," say our Sages. Commentaries explain that while freed from their physical limitations, they are even more unconstrained in their concern for and impact on those of us left down below.

Sending a Letter to the Rebbe
Similarly, people continue to send letters to be placed at his resting place, for the Rebbe's intervention On High, in the age-old tradition of leaving written prayer petitions at our holiest sites. Throughout the years, the Rebbe received hundreds of letters every day from people of every conceivable background, occupation and faith.

As in the Rebbe's lifetime, so it is today that stories abound of miraculous reprieve resulting from a visit to the Ohel. This should come as no surprise when we recognize the Rebbe's life-span as a continuum of spirituality and holiness. According to our Sages, after the tzaddik (a righteous person) leaves his physical constraints, this only intensifies.

Many who remember the Rebbe visit the Rebbe's resting place not only to pray, but to re-experience the moments of spiritual elevation they had in the Rebbe's presence in his lifetime.

For more information about the Ohel click HERE.