By COLlive reporter
Photos by Bentzi Sasson
“Thousands of people are arriving at the New York City grave of a revered New York City rabbi to mark the 19th anniversary of his death,” the Associated Press reported on Tuesday morning.
The news agency said the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson OBM “was credited with reinvigorating a decimated community after the Holocaust and building a movement that promotes observant Judaism around the world.”
“Lubavitch Jews and other admirers of Schneerson are expected to visit his gravesite in Cambria Heights, Queens from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.”
In reality, the Gimmel Tammuz pilgrimage began earlier than that and ended much later. While Tuesday had better weather than the heavy rain on Monday night, it was the long wait that kept people on their feet.
At one point later in the day, when many had ended their work day, visitors reported a record 4-hour wait in the line extending out of the cemetery and down Francis Lewis Blvd.
The procedure is that visitors are asked to pray and read from the Maana Lashon booklet, which was composed for visiting the holy gravesites of the Chabad Rebbes, while on line.
Once nearing the Ohel, leather shoes are removed and people enter the open space around the Rebbe and the Frierdiker Rebbe’s graves until it is full. They are permitted 2 minutes inside to read their “pan” personal letter to the Rebbe, tear it, and then leave.
Once the Ohel empties, another batch is allowed in. The groups switch off between men and women. But with some insisting on remaining longer near the Rebbe or trying to remain another minute or two inside sometimes delays the procedure.
One bochur has suggested another option, similar to when people would walk by the Rebbe at 770 Eastern Parkway or his home on President Street to receive a blessing and dollar for charity.
“Why can’t there be a constant walk through the Ohel on days like this?” he wondered. “People will read the ‘pan’ on their way in and walk the full circle with enough time to tear the ‘pan’ and drop it in.”
He estimated walking through, instead of a full switch of groups, could be done only during congested time. “People would rather daven a little, but they would also appreciate not waiting for so long.”
Rabbi Abba Refson, Director of Ohel Chabad Lubavitch who coordinates the activities there, was not available for comment.
it was very nice and inspiring
i stayed in the ohel for 7 whole minuets because they were reading the pan kloli
FYI, anyone who is physically incapable of standing in line for that long can arrange it with Rabbi Refson.
very creative and funny
Yaher koach To Reb Abba for organizing the shabbos before Gimmel Tamuz and Gimel Tamuz itself. It was truly inspiring.
A little tip though, is to print out some more siddurim, for there was a real shortage of them…
how about a helicopter
I always feel so PROUD to be a chossid during Gimmel Tammuz just due to the extremely well organized, well run, efficient system at the Ohel. Thank you Rabbi Refson and everyone else responsible.
I agree it is worth the wait! (even though as a woman I don’t think I ever waited as long as even an hour…)
They should make a moving conveyor-type belt, that would be about 24-36 inches wide, and at least 2-3-4-5? people could stand in one place, and then it would slowly move around the perimeter of the ohel – and while it’s moving slowly by, the people are saying maaneh loshon, reading a pidyon, etc. etc. – and this would have a set time of approximately 2-3 minutes. As they are coming around and going out, another group of 10-15-20??? (as many as can fit on the belt,) are getting on. That way – you would have a more efficient system of… Read more »
With a staicase on the side. You would be able to get in twice the amount of people at one time!
he is not the only one who is seventy years old who went to the ohel yesterday ,if we are giving them special treatment lets give it to all seniors
agree with #23
to #5: Rabbi Cunin is a jew over seventy years old, it might be a little difficult for him to stand for 3 hours!
Mind your own business!
I for sure see it as a privilege to be part of it
How much people that could not make it would have like to be at my place.it is a zchut to be able to make it
I waited 1 1/2 hr on gwb.and thenabout 4hrs at the ohel
The Rebbe explicitly says (it’s in a letter found in the back of Likkutei Sichos Chelek 7) that Kohanim should not go the Tzion even of a Tzaddik or Rebbe. He says that by the Ohel the roof is open, there’s a wall, the Kohen should stand back against the wall, and get to the Ohel in a car. I went last night at midnight, the night after, and it was totally empty. And by the way when it comes to dates such as Gimmel Tammuz the Rebbe would Farbreng the night after and explained that in matter of Kedusha… Read more »
# 13 very well said. I waited for over 3 hours with other Chassidim for 2 emotional minutes. I consider it an honor
How about getting your butts in gear going earlier?
I got there app. 9am spent a few minutes writing my pan & I was in & out in a little over an hour even with a few ” vips being allowed to skip the line Separate times for men & women & for groups of children etc.
Albie Dumbeldore!!!
the Rebbe stood for 5 6 7 hrs for us, we should be able to wait as long as it takes,
There’s only one doorway which would make it extremely hard to have a 2 way line passing by at the same time.
It should be done by apointment,that way people wouldnot come all at the same time.
wouldn’t really work to have people going in and out of the same door at the same time. Especially if some people try walking out backwards
dina k
How about if its done by last name, Like if your last name begins with A-K you come between 10:00 and 12:00 etc.
they did this in New york after hurricane sandy with getting gas at the gas stations. odds or evens on your license plate number.
What is your Halachik source for this? BT school?
You want to know what a real problem is though? When Kohanim are waiting in line in the tent, and some ignoramous sticks their head or body out of the tent over a matzeiva, THEN you have a real problem, as the entire tent can become Tamei.
I suggest someone checks into this matter.
Do the quick walk through during certain, busy times (especially at the end of the day). It’s not like 1 minute is much different than two. and would make a big difference for everyone.
you should all really be busy with something else.
i (a woman) went with my children at 10:00. We waited maybe 5 minutes. and yes the walkway were the women waited was the same as by the men – covered from the sun, as well as water available every few feet. It was very well organized. yasher koach to all! and yes – it is worth it to wait in line for even four hours to be there for 2 minutes
First of all Yasher Koach to Rabbi Refson, the organizers and volunteers who spend so much time planning and anticipating the needs of the crowds- from the water machines, to the video monitors, to the facilities, free food and for so many of the things that we’ve grown accustomed to and take for granted. It’s truly a kiddush hashem! The walk thru suggestion is a very good idea for the day of Gimmel Tammuz. Chassidim who wish to spend longer can always come any time of the year and spend as much time as they want – but when there… Read more »
I want to thank the staff at the Ohel for their courtesy, and professionalism. Everything was well organized, the enviornment was clean and orderly and even though the wait was long (2 hours) even the children were mostly well behaved. It’s amazing… under the circumstances, so many children waiting such a long time and even there, everyone was on their best behavior. Amazing… uplifting experience… may all our prayers be answered for the good.
I was there 10 am. I ( woman) had a half hour wait under the covering. Was very pleasant waiting and unbelievable organized. Thank you
have a covering too
Best time to go
A walk through during congested times is a good solution. It can be announced beforehand when those times are, so that if someone needs those 2 minutes, they can plan to arrive during non-peak hours. Thank you to Rabbi Refson for all the hard work in coordinating everything and for the delicious tuna sandwiches.
their lines were supposed to be MUCH shorter
Thanks for your helpful comment
I waited 3.5 hours, and the line only got longer….
Women wait in the open with sun beating down on them & their children. Why can’t there be a covering for women as well?
I notice Rabbi Duchman, Cunin and more in these pictures. Do they wait 2-4 hours in line? Perhaps if everyone was required to, solutions will be found. The best solution, is Moshiach NOW!
Was it really an over 4 hour wait ?! Or was it really closer to 2?
the body of a Rebbe is holy!
People fly in from across the world just to have 2mins in the ohel. So you wait in line – Just like by dollars – so another chassid can spend 2min reading his pan at the ohel after flying in from across the world
I am a kohen, and this idea would not work out for me. We have to have a distance from the matzeiva, and therefore today while everyone in my group was led to the back door, me and a few others had a little spot at the front door.