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Thousands of Jews flocked Monday night and Tuesday to the tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel, just south of Jerusalem, to pray in her memory. The pilgrimage correspondeded with the 11th of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, the anniversary of Rachel's passing. According to the Bible, she was buried on the way to Efrath, in Beit Lechem (Bethlehem).Rabbis for the Land of Israel, a group of rabbis headed by Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba, conducted at the tomb a special prayer ceremony against the plans to divide Jerusalem which have recently been floated by Israeli politicians.Ever since the mid-1990s, when Arabs in Bethlehem began sniping at the structure, access to the tomb has been restricted and high concrete walls were constructed to protect visitors. For years, only bulletproofed buses were allowed into the compound.This year was different: following a meeting in the Knesset between MK Uri Ariel (NU/NRP) and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, the minister agreed to let non-bulletproofed buses in as well. Private cars are not allowed in because the walls that have been built around the tomb have left very little room to park within them. However, the elderly and disabled are allowed to enter in private cars.The site has been identified as Rachel's tomb since ancient times. The structure around the tomb was widened in 1841 by Jewish leader and financier Moshe Montefiore.In the book of Jeremiah, Rachel is depicted weeping over the exiled children of Israel:"A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Thus says Hashem: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says Hashem: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future, says Hashem: your children shall come back to their own country."As in the days of Noah....
