Rav Chaim’s Advice to Find Your Soulmate, “Soon”
Preparations have begun for one of the largest and most celebrated prayer gatherings in Israel. Each year, a staggering 300 avreichim from Kollel Rinah Shel Torah gather at the tomb of Rabbi Yonasan Ben Uziel, also known as ‘Amukah.’ Amukah is famous for the many Jews who have travelled from around the world to pray there for their zivug (soulmate), and have found their tefilos answered shortly afterward.
From nightfall until chatzos, the group of participants cry out in tearful prayer, entreating the Ribono Shel Olam to help the suffering members of the Jewish People. Recited at the event is a special tefilah, composed for Rinah Shel Torah by Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l. The Edelstein dynasty’s involvement with this particular event goes further: The Rav’s son Rav Tzvi Yehuda Edelstein leads the davening each year. Other gedolim involved include Rav Shraga Noach Shteinman, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir Rav Binyamin Finkel, and the kollel’s own Rosh Yeshiva Rav Mordechai Lieber HaLevi Cohen.
In keeping with the legacy of Amukah and Tu B’av, the tefilos have a particular focus on zivugim, and those who have yet to find their soulmate. This is a particularly powerful blessing for the many Jewish people around the world yearning to find a happy marriage. The tefila addresses other yeshuos as well.
Rav Chaim Kanievsky offered his thoughts on the event, as well as a blessing for those who participate: “It seems that the learning of hundreds of avreichim of Rina Shel Torah while keeping a taanis dibbur, and the subsequent prayers at the grave of Yonasan ben Uziel, is a segulah to see salvation in finding fitting zivugim soon. As the Gaon of Vilna writes: prayers offered at the graves of righteous people are accepted.”
During the hours of the event, the energy in the room is palpable. Bnei Torah of all shapes and sizes fill every available inch of space, as the fervent prayers of talmidei chachamim boom through the stone kever. Those who donate to add their names to the prayer list help to fund the kollel’s expenses, including the learning stipends of the avreichim.
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