The Segulah of praying in Cave of Machpelah, and various details in this matter
(From the book of Shoshani Zion – it is still in handwritten form. Although the things are still being edited, we have deemed it appropriate to publish the things for the benefit of the public)
The words of Chazal are known in the masechet sotah about Caleb ben Yafuna who prostrated himself on the graves of the Avot in the Cave of Machpelah, and is the main source for the whole topic of prostrating on the graves of the Tzaddikim. There is a lot of length on the matter of Cave of Machpelah, in various aspects, and here we will mention only what concerns its Segulah as a place worthy of prostration and receiving prayers, as well as various details (in halacha and practice) concerning prayer in this place.
Who is buried in Cave of Machpelah, and which Tzaddikm are associated there
The fathers, and the pardons for the graves of other Taddikim
Adam and Eve, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, Sarah Rebekah and Leah are buried in Cave of Machpelah[1].
From there there is an open hole in the depths of the earth, which connects the cave with the burial place of Moses, and Aaron Hcohen, and Miriam the prophet, [2].
And there is an ancient rumor that the Cave also connected by a an underground cave to the tomb of Yishai (father of David) and Ruth the Moabite[3].
Some say that shortly before the time of the end , another underground cave will be opened, from Cave of Machpelah to Rachel’s Tomb[4]
Some say that there is a tunnel that leads from Hebron to the “upper pool” near King David’s tomb, and from there there is a tunnel that leads to Rachel’s tomb[5].
There is a unique opinion that after Rachel was buried in Bethlehem, angels transferred her pure body to the Cave of Machpelah [6], but according to the words of the CHazal the said nothing about that [7].
Moses Rabino and more
And according to some ancient sources, after our Moses was buried on Mount Nebo, he was transported by angels (or passed through tunnels) to the Cave of Machpelah, together with his wife Zipporah[8].
Some say that Yehuda ben Jacob, our father, was also buried in Cave of Machpelah[11].
And there are those who say that the rest of the Shvatim(the sons of Jacob our father) were also buried in the Cave of Machpelah except Joseph[12].
Graves of the righteous near the cave
And next to the cave is buried Abner ben Ner[13]
and the head of the king Ish Bushet[14],
Some say also the Ramban[15].
King David
And in the Cave of Machpelah there is an examination of King David’s soul (to complete the fourth leg of the chariot), because as mentioned the first Adam (who was the soul of David) is buried there[16]. Even in King David’s lifetime, he had a spiritual connection to the Avor through the Cave of Machpelah, And from that he drew his royal power[17].
Petah Gan Eden, and other Segulot related to Cave of Machpelah
And there is another reason for praying in Cave of Machpelah, because it is near the entrance to Heaven[18], and there the soul of the first Adam departed from his body[19], and served there as Shekina even before the burial of the Avot[20]. Well, we find in the holy Zohar, our father Itzhak, used to pray regularly in the Cave of Machpelah, after he noticed that incense was coming out of there without Kaddish[21]. And all the more so after the burial of the Avot, where Shekina is the most powerful, since the Avot of in their lives had Shekina sing in them and all the more so after their past away[22]].
Likewise, in Cave of Machpelah there is a sanctity of the altar of Mount Moriah[23]. And in the opinion of our Rabbi Ashtori Farhari, the structure above the Cave of Machpelah (in its lower part), was built from the stones of the site of the Temple[24]. However, there is a spiritual connection between Cave of Machpelah and the place of the temple[25].
Some say that the Tomb of Cave of Machpelah is the place through which all the prayers of the people of Israel pass[26].
The prayers in Cave of Machpelah
“Throughout the generations, Israel would go to the graves of the Avot in Cave of Machpelah, and our father Abraham He would rise to the top and cancel any harsh rulings”[27].
And the soul of Jacob our father (more than all other souls) is always at all times with the spiritual tools needed to influence the people of Israel in his prayer[28], and he is as hinted in the Torah that “Yakov our father is not dead”[29].
Well, the last great Kabbalists, saw prayer in the Cave of Machpelah as very important, even when it involved investing time and effort and spending a lot of money[30], and even when they had to take risks[31]. , to go up to Hebron at least once a year, to pray in Cave of Machpelah[32]. Likewise, the Garich Sonnenfeld would go on foot (without means of transportation and without riding) from Jerusalem to Hebron, out of respect for the Avot, every year in the month of Elul[33].
And there are those who wrote (in the simplest way) that the main benefit of praying on Tzaddikim graves is in Cave of Machpelah[34].
And there are those who say that Cave of Machpelah is the chosen place to pray for offspring[35].
If they are reminded in the Cave of the Patriarchs of God’s oath that the people of Israel will inherit the land, the fathers stand and pray for it to God[36].
And the fathers themselves (after their death) pray an eighteen prayer in Cave of Machpelah every day, each prayer he corrected[37].
And as for whether it is permissible to enter and pray inside the mosque built by the Ishmaelites on top of the ancient structure of Cave of Machpelah (which is actually the top floor where we pray today, because we are not allowed to enter the lower floors anymore), we will explain it at length elsewhere, and we brought the main point to allow it, as well as other things.
The exact location of the burial of the Avot in the complex of the building above Cave of Machpelah
The “tombstones” that the Ishmaelites built on the top floor of the building are not directed against the burial place of the Avot, as is proven by the sayings of Chazal in [38] and the Zohar[39] that they are not buried in the way that the Ishmaelites specified. It is also known from the travel diaries of the Kadmonim, that these marks are only for illustration, and the Avot are all buried in close proximity to each other in one of the areas below the structure. However, I don’t know what area they are buried in (and what is the chosen area for prayer).
And some make it a point to pray as close as possible to the entrance to the cave, which is in Yitzhak Hall (and anyway on the days that Yitzhak Hall is open, they prefer to pray there precisely[40], and on the days when it is closed, praying near the west wall of Avraham Hall).
And according to excavations carried out at the site, it appears that the cave is right in the center of the structure, and we were under the Zion that the Arabs built in the name of Abraham our father (although there is no evidence), and according to this the chosen area for prayer is the “Women’s Hall”(Ezrat Nashim) inside the Hall of Abraham. And some made sure to pray a little In every hall and hall in the Cave of Machpelah[41].
It is the custom of the Hassidic circles to pray on the “seventh step” (outside the building above the cave), next to the Yitzhak hall, next to the “hole” in the wall there, and according to tradition that “hole” leads to the tomb of the Avot[42]. There is a reason for their custom. [43]. And it seems to prove this from the Zohar saying, meaning that our father Isaac chose to pray in the field that was “near” Cave of Machpelah, and not “inside” the cave and not “above” the cave[44].
And the custom of praying on the “seventh step” is even an eighteen prayer, even though the place is “broken” [45].
The building above the Cave of Machpelah, and the surrounding area
And our eyes see that there is a practice of kissing the building walls of Cave of Machpelah, just as they do at the Western Wall, and it is not appropriate to do so on the upper floor (which was built by the Ishmaelites), since it is a mosque, even if we allow to pray there. And it is possible to kiss the outer walls on the lower floors, such as the wall next to the “seventh step”, because the lower structure is ancient and was built by Jews[46], and as such this structure has already been mentioned in the writings of Yosef ben Matthew[47] who was at the time of Beit Hamikdash Hasheni. Well some say that King David built, and some say that King Shlomo built[48]. And some say, after all, part of the structure was built by Avraham Avinu [49], or by Yosef [50], or by Esther the queen[51], or by an angel[52] . And to
distinguish between the pure and the impurity, according to the researchers’ hypothesis, these walls were built during the Second Temple(Beit Hamidkash Hasheni) period during the Hordus period[53].
According to the Zohar, up to 3 steps of the surroundings of e’arat Hamachpelah, there is a special importance in the place, because of the importance of Jacob our father, who lies there[54].
Various details for prayers in Cave of Machpelah
- Some practice to be exact, the second day they pray in Cave of Machpelah, they also pray at Rachel’s tomb, lest the perfection of the mothers be lacking[55].
- It is a correct custom to read the Parshat Ha’Akedah[56] in the Cave of Machpelah, in order to invoke the right of the Avot, and to add the text of the request for redemption that was printed in the Siddurs after Parshat Hakedah, which is all about bringing about the redemption, thanks to Parshat Hakedah, redemption will come[57]. And he said with intent and excitement, “וכל האומר פרשת העקידה בכוונה שלימה מוחלין לו כל עוונותיו” (“And whoever recites the Parshat Hakedah with complete intent, all his sins are forgiven”)[58].
- And likewise, what is good and pleasant, being in Cave of Machpelah, to read the last part of Petah Eliyahu, which begins with the words “קם רבי שמעון פתח ואמר לך ה’ הגדולה,etc.”[59], in a way that very deliberately says the words: ““אתערו משנתכון, הקיצו ורננו שוכני עפר וכו’, רעיא מהימנא אנת ואבהן הקיצו ורננו לאתערותא דשכינתא דאיהי ישנה בגלותא וכו’”.” And the act is known in Gemarah'[60] by Rabbi Yehuda Hahassid with Elijah Hanavi , that if they wake up the three fathers to pray together, salvation will come immediately.
