More Than 50,000 Expected to Visit Rachel´s Tomb
Pastor Dale Morgan
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.