More than 100 Jewish women rescued by Yad L’Achim this year from Arab villages offered moving tefillos at the tomb of Rachel Imeinu on her yahrzeit, the 11th of Cheshvan.

The women were bused in from all over the country, some from their secret safe houses, for the special event. These women were rescued from hostile Arab villages and towns like Umm el Fahm, Tulkarm, Rahat, Isawiya, Shuafat, Qalanswa, and Yatta.

For most of them, this was their first visit to the holy site. Their tefillos were heartbreaking, especially that of one mother rescued from an Arab village who had been forced to leave two adult children behind. Yad L’Achim is making extraordinary efforts to reunite this mother and her children.

The visit to Kever Rachel was preceded by a dinner arranged for the women in Yerushalayim, which was addressed by Rebbetzin Leah Elias, daughter of the Kabbalist Harav Nissim Peretz, zt”l. The Rebbetzin spoke about the life of Rachel Imeinu, sharing riveting stories of her holy character, her sacrifices on behalf of her children, and the power of prayer.

The women listened with rapt attention and participated in the lively discussion that followed the Rebbetzin’s talk. The gathering ended with the acceptance of Ol Malchus Shamayim and the women taking upon themselves personal resolutions in their effort to strengthen their Jewish identity.

They then boarded buses that took them to the tomb of Mama Rachel, where they poured out their hearts in prayer.

Mrs. Suri Kostlitz, a senior official at Yad L’Achim, spoke of how much the event meant to her and her staffers: “For us, as a team of dozens of social workers who have accompanied the survivors every day, it was chilling to see up close the results of our efforts. It’s impossible to describe the feeling of satisfaction we feel at the profound change that has occurred in the lives of each of the survivors. We have been privileged to witness the progress and personal development of these strong women. How they have built themselves up and connected to the people of Israel.”

Another senior Yad L’Achim official said, “Rachel mourns for her lost children, and that includes everyone who is not yet with us, because she is still imprisoned in an Arab village. Rachel Imeinu does not stop crying for her.

“Everyone is obligated to remain hopeful, not to give up on any Jew. Sadly, we receive countless cases.  Every day brings with it new and heartbreaking challenges; we do not rest on our laurels, we will continue in our commitment to not give up on any Jewish soul. Netzach Yisrael lo Yishaker.”