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Why do people pray at the gravesite of holy people?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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Praying at the gravesite of a righteous person can help a person physically as well as spiritually. Our sages tell us1 the reason why Caleb was successful in remaining faithful to Moses when all the other spies (who were originally spiritual people) failed, was because he went to pray for assistance by the gravesite of our Patriarchs.2

A Tzaddik, who is close to G-d, has the ability to bring our prayers to G-d's attention, and be a successful "lawyer" on our behalf.

Footnotes

  • 1. Talmud tractate Sotah 34b, quoted in Rashi on Numbers 13:22
  • 2. See Numbers, chapters 13-14

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RELATED CATEGORIES

Life Cycle » Death » Burial/Cemetery
Chassidism » Rebbe » Chassidic Masters
Tzaddik
(fem. Tzidkanit; pl. Tzaddikim). A saint, or righteous person.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Caleb
One of the spies sent by Moses to do reconnaissance on Canaan. Along with Joshua, and unlike the other ten spies, he gave a positive report.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.