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15/2/2010
The Way to fasten the Redemption
The great tzaddik of Yerushalayim, Reb Arye Leibish Lipshitz, known as the Rebbe of Apt-Strikov, was very attached to the kever of Rochel Imeinu which he would visit often, and he even wrote a sefer Yesod L'kra describing the great merit and importance of Torah study and prayer in Kever Rochel.
During the war of Israel's independence, he requested from one of his Chasidim to drive him to Kever Rochel at eleven o'clock in the evening, and to return him to his home at four in the morning. It was wartime then, and traveling at night was dangerous. 'Why is it so important' he asked his Rebbe. The Rebbe replied; 'I have many Chasidim in America. One of them was in Italy, and he visited the Vatican. There he saw an old sefer handwritten by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. In it was written; 'The only way to bring the redemption is by saying the Tikun Chatzos in Kever Rochel the entire night. If people will succeed to do this, the redemption will be near.'
Kever Rachel is certainly a fitting place, and midnight is unquestionably the most favorable time, to bring about yeshuous (salvation) and geulah sheleimah (the Final Redemtpion) for Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people. The Zohar (Vayachi 228b) writes, "Whenever the world needs mercy, Mother Rachel accomplishes more than anyone else.”
The Tikunei Zohar (ch. 6) and other sources, teach that the central resting place for the Shechina (Divine Presence) during the exile is Kever Rachel. It is therefore a wonderful thing to study Torah in Kever Rachel after midnight, the time that is famously well suited for annulling evil decrees from Klal Yisrael. G-d will certainly answer prayers offered after studying Torah at Kever Rachel.
Every Jew, wherever in the world he might be, can have these benefits by making these students his emissaries, as Chazal (our Sages) said; 'shlucho shel adam k'moso' (the emissary is like the sender himself). The scholars will undoubtedly fulfill their mission faithfully.
Dovid HaMelech said: "Chatzos laylah akum…" Midnight I awaken to praise You Hashem. He didn’t say: BaChatzos "at midnight I awaken…", because Dovid was referring to Hashem, the Holy One blessed be His name, and he called Hashem's name 'Midnight', because the Holy One, blessed be His name reveals Himself in Gan Eden at midnight. (Zohar).
We learn the greatness of tefillah for forty days from Moshe Rabbeinu who prayed forty days for the forgiveness of Klal Yisrael, and then Hashem said: "Solachti K'dvorchah" "I will forgive, as you requested".
Yakov Avinu designated Kever Rochel to be a place for Tefillah. (Brisker Rav)
Kever Rochel is the ideal location for a minyan to gather and pray, because Kever Rochel has been established as a place of prayer. (Rabbi Chaim Kanievski Shlita)
The Kisei Melech (commentary on Tikunei Zohar) writes: "One hour of Torah study after midnight is equivalent to an entire day of Torah study".
The Zohar parshas Balak (202) teaches: "Fortunate is the portion of those who study Torah continuously. Whoever studies Torah day and night is compared to a tree who is planted in water. He will not be a dry and dying tree."
Rabbi Chaim Palagi in his sefer Tochachas Chaim teaches: "The obligation to awaken at midnight to study Torah is for Talmidei Chachamim and for laymen alike, for people living in Israel and for people living in the Diaspora.
Rabbi Eliezer Papo writes in his sefer Pelo Yoetz: "Those who awaken at midnight to study Torah are bringing immense pleasure to their Creator. It is also possible to awaken a few hours before dawn to study in holiness and with a clear mind, and to pour out their hearts before Hashem, and to beg His forgiveness. It is more valuable than an entire day. This is the reward for those who awaken early! .
A letter from the son of the great mekubal R Yeshaya Asher Zelig Margolis recorded in the pamphlet "Otzrot Yerushalayim", chapter 36 states: …because we know from our holy uncle the author of 'Yismach Yisrael' , a segula for a pregnant woman to carry through her pregnancy easily without any problems chas v'sholom, and that she should give birth to live children, is to take the measurements of Kever Rachel Imeinu, (using a string) and that string should be tied onto her hand, and it brings about all kinds of yeshuot, and so may it be His will, amen.