Rachel's Tomb, Rachel's tears: Our Matriarch's Afterlife

For many Jews, hearing our Biblical forebears’ stories year after year, we start to experience them as if they are like family. On the traditional anniversary of Rachel’s death (11th of Heshvan), we’ll review Rachel’s story in the Torah—with its romance, drama and pathos. Then we’ll explore two remarkable offshoots that have animated and transformed her legacy: 1) Jeremiah’s dramatic prophesy about Rachel weeping for her lost children—prominent in the Rosh Hashana service and elaborated in Midrash; and 2) Rachel’s Tomb—where women of different religions have gathered to seek Rachel’s intercession with God. By exploring Jeremiah’s prophecy and Rachel’s Tomb, we will deepen our appreciation of their special power and grapple with challenging questions that they raise. Learners of all backgrounds welcome.

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Jim Leffert is a licensed psychologist and long-time member of the Harvard Hillel Worship and Study Minyan. Jim has a B.A. in Religious Studies from Dartmouth College, and his Jewish learning has also included courses at the Hebrew University, Brown University, and Hebrew College in Boston. Jim has written and presented 15 Purim Shpiels for the Worship and Study Minyan and many can be viewed at Purim24-7.com.

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