What Is the Ohel?

The Ohel is the resting place of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, in Queens, New York. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, King Moshiach, went there to pray for hours for every Jew who asked for his blessing, and answered countless letters, “I will mention it at the resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.”

The Ohel is the structure over the resting place of the Previous Rebbe, in the Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.

Ohel is Hebrew for “tent.” It is the traditional name for the structure built over the resting place of a tzaddik. The histalkus of the Previous Rebbe, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, was on Yud Shvat 5710 (1950). Chassidim call the place “the Ohel” or “the holy Tziyun.”

The Previous Rebbe kept Judaism alive under Soviet rule and was imprisoned for it. He was released from prison on 3 Tammuz 5687 (1927), and freed completely on 12 Tammuz. He proclaimed, “Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption.” The story of the Rebbe and the Previous Rebbe is one story of leadership toward the Redemption.

What did the Rebbe teach about the Previous Rebbe after Yud Shvat?

The Rebbe wrote that every service of the Previous Rebbe must continue and grow (Igros Kodesh, vol. 3, p. 327).

In one of the first letters after Yud Shvat 5710, the Rebbe wrote that all who are bound to the Previous Rebbe should only strengthen themselves and continue everything as before. In another letter he added that the work should not only continue in quality and quantity, but advance and develop more than before (Igros Kodesh, vol. 3, p. 327; both cited in the booklet Yechi HaMelech, N’Shei Chabad, based on Rabbi Shloma Majeski).

In 5752 the Rebbe called the Previous Rebbe “the Moshe of our generation,” and our generation “the last generation of the exile and the first generation of the Redemption” (Sichos In English, Shabbos Parshas Bo 5752). The Rebbe taught that after a tzaddik’s passing it becomes plain that his life was never limited to his physical person (Sichos In English, Shabbos Parshas Vaeira 5752). The Alter Rebbe writes that a tzaddik is found in all the worlds even more than during his life (Tanya, Iggeres HaKodesh 27).

How often did the Rebbe go to the Ohel?

The Rebbe went about twice a month, and later about twice a week, and stayed for hours.

On the days the Rebbe went to the Ohel he ate nothing until he returned. He stood on his feet the whole time, even in bad weather (Geulah Weekly 5773, Vayikra, “Miracles Today”).

Geulah Weekly tells of a woman, Mrs. M., hurt in an accident. Doctors said she would need four surgeries. The Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Groner, gave her full Hebrew name and her mother’s name to the Rebbe. The Rebbe answered, “If so, I will travel to the Ohel.” He went again the next day, and again, each time asking for news. The number of surgeries fell, until the doctors reported a remarkable recovery. She was an ordinary member of the community, and the Rebbe gave her day after day of fasting and prayer.

What did the Rebbe write in his answers?

The Rebbe’s letters often end, “I will mention it at the resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.”

Likkutei Sichos prints many such letters. To the graduating class of Beis Rivkah, on Yud Shvat 5732, the Rebbe wrote that he would mention them at the resting place of the Previous Rebbe, “the master of the hilula,” for the fulfillment of their hearts’ wishes for good (Likkutei Sichos vol. 36, p. 233). Similar answers appear in letters of 5720 and 5727 (Likkutei Sichos vol. 38, p. 218; vol. 36, p. 258).

Geulah Weekly has recorded many families who received the same short line, together with practical advice such as checking tefillin and mezuzos. Stories of these blessings and miracles continue to this day.

Why do Jews pray at the resting place of a tzaddik?

The Talmud tells that Calev prayed at the resting place of the Patriarchs in Hebron (Sotah 34b).

When the spies went through the Land, Calev went alone to Hebron. He prayed at the graves of the Patriarchs to be saved from the plan of the spies (Sotah 34b). The prayer is directed to G-d alone. The merit of the tzaddik, and his love for every Jew, help it rise.

Jews have always gone to pray at the resting places of tzaddikim, from the Cave of Machpelah to the resting place of the Rambam in Tiberias. Chassidim also travel to the resting places of the earlier Chabad Rebbes in Russia and Ukraine.

How do people write to the Rebbe at the Ohel today?

People write a letter with their full Hebrew name, their mother’s name and their request.

The letter names each person with his or her Hebrew name and mother’s name, as Rabbi Groner wrote for Mrs. M.
At the Ohel visitors pray from the heart, and many say chapters of Tehillim (Psalms).
Many add a good resolution, such as putting on tefillin every day, giving charity or checking mezuzos.
Many also place their letter in a volume of the Rebbe’s letters, Igros Kodesh, and read the answer on the page where it opens.

Since Gimmel Tammuz, people of every background come to the Ohel to pray and to write to the Rebbe for a blessing, as crowds once lined up for the Rebbe’s Sunday dollars. After his election, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, went to New York and prayed at the Ohel (Geulah Weekly 5784, Tazria).

What does the Ohel have to do with the Redemption?

The Rebbe taught that the tzaddikim rise first at the Redemption, the Previous Rebbe among them (Shabbos Parshas Bo 5752).

The Rebbe said the Previous Rebbe will share this with the members of his generation, especially those who spread his teachings. Then all will go together to Eretz Yisrael, to Jerusalem and to the Beis Hamikdash (Sichos In English, “A Lifetime Renewed”). This is the resurrection of the dead the Torah promises.

In the sicha of Beis Nissan 5748 the Rebbe wrote that the declaration Yechi HaMelech brings “Arise and sing, those who dwell in the dust,” the Previous Rebbe, and the awakening of King Moshiach (Sefer HaSichos 5748, vol. 1, pp. 350-354). On Gimmel Tammuz the Rebbe was concealed from our eyes, and the Rebbe continues to lead. The question of whether Moshiach can come from the dead is answered in the Talmud itself (Sanhedrin 98b). Those who pray at the Ohel ask for one thing above all: the full revelation of the Rebbe, King Moshiach, now.