Rebbe in a Box!
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Praying by the graves of long-deceased holy men is a time-honored Jewish practice, especially on the recent holiday of Lag b’Omer, when thousands flock to the resting place of R’ Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron. But what about kohanim, who are not allowed to come into contact with the dead, or even enter a cemetery?
Until now, they were forced to keep their distance. But one Hassidic rebbe, the leader of the Toldos Aaron sect, has come up with an — ahem — outside the box solution. According to the Israeli website matzav.com, the Rebbe found a way around the prohibition by traveling to Meron in a wooden crate, loaded on the back of a pickup truck, which served as a barrier between himself and the ritual impurity of the graves. Now that’s traveling in (kosher) style!
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
