40 Consecutive Days of Tefillah at the tziyun of the holy Tanna Rabbi Yonason ben Uziel zy"a By a minyan of Torah scholars, with the 40th day coinciding with the date of the yahrtzeit of the holy Tanna! M Ma ara an n Ha a ag g gao o on R' Y Yaa ak ko ov v Ed d de els st tein, sh hli it t"a a, p pr ra a ay yi ing on n beh ha al l lf o of co on ntr ri ibu u uto o or rs s to K Ku upa at t H Ha a'i ir r at t the h ho ly y t tzi iy yu u un n in Am mu u uka ah h o on t the y yah hrt tz ze eit, , 26 6 6 S S Sivan 5 576 69 9 .
Transcript
40 Consecutive Days
of Tefillah at the tziyun of the holy Tanna
Rabbi Yonason ben Uziel zy"a
By a minyan of Torah scholars, with the 40th day
coinciding with the date of the yahrtzeit of the holy Tanna!
"Anyone who didn't contribute last year pulled his hair out afterward."
An exaggeration, certainly – but there's a modicum of truth to it. The exuberant circles around searching singles who had finally met their life's partners (“32!!” “29!!” “38!!!”) were exceptionally festive. In so many families, "red lights" turned green as plates were broken and gold watches purchased and donned – that anyone who was still waiting for good news but had missed the forty days of prayer at Amukah was very, very sorry.
Now that time of year is almost upon us once again.
Are there no longer Jewish singles whose parents long to see them under the chuppah? Has the shidduch crisis passed completely?
Definitely not. Some singles have never contributed to the forty-day prayer session; others have contributed but not yet merited a yeshuah. It is Hashem Who runs the world and every single thing that happens,
big or small – not to mention an issue as fateful as shidduchim – is carried out by Him, with mercy and compassion, with judgment and fairness and with a G-dly brilliance we cannot begin to fathom.
Some people contributed and merited a yeshuah; some people did not contribute, yet they merited a yeshuah nevertheless; some people have neither contributed nor merited a yeshuah. All situations exist. Each of us is judged separately, individually.
Still, the gates of heaven opened wide in the face of the forty-day prayer session at Amukah. The huge numbers of shidduchim that were celebrated during the weeks thereafter were proof of that. Hakadosh Baruch Hu, in His great mercy, opened the gates of yeshuah and rolled out good tidings to so many homes.
And from the results, we can learn a little bit about what Hashem wants.
Forty Days of Eiisss RRRRRRaaaaatttttzzzzoooooonnnnn aaaaaatttt Amukah
Hashem feels the pain suffered by singles. He's with them in their distress and fear for the future. He
Maran Hagaon Harav Y. Edelstein, shlit"a, immersed un prayer on behalf
of contributors to Kupat Ha'ir at the holy tziyun in Amuka on the
yahrtzteit, 26 Sivan 5769.
feels and understands their anguish more than any human being possibly can. Always. How is it that these tefillos accomplish so much in Shamayim? Why is it that the gates of heaven open specifically on behalf of those who contribute in exchange for forty days of prayer at Amukah? It is not up to us to ask such questions.
Yidden everywhere have always known about the powerful segulah of Amukah.
We know about the power of forty consecutive days of prayer since the times of Moshe Rabbeinu.
The extraordinary combination between Amukah and the awesome power of forty consecutive days of tefillah was revealed to us by Hashem in this generation!
The Gedolei Hador instructed Kupat Ha'ir as to how to go about arranging a prayer session in exchange for contributions to the poor – and Hashem answered these prayers…
This is no simple matter, not at all. It is huge and powerful, rooted in holiness. We see only the tiniest sliver, but what we see makes us feel good.
BBBBeyyyooonndd TTTeevvaaaMany, many tefillos have been poured out during these days, and they tipped the scales. Many young men and women and even entire families rearranged their
schedules in order to daven at the same time as the minyan in Amukah. Some people went so far as to make a certain resolution for spiritual improvement, to take something upon themselves in order
t o draw closer to the Ribono shel Olam.
All these things carry weight. Every addition carries significance and import.
Not a single tear goes uncounted; not a single good deed is lost. Everything helps.
Still, although all these options are always available to people in need of a yeshuah, anticipation among the public for the onset of Kupat Ha'ir's forty-day prayer session at Amukah is increasing to a fever pitch. People sense that this addition of praying at Amukah for forty consecutive days is something above and beyond the confines of teva, that it is a hugely powerful key with which to open the gates of yeshuah.
PPrraaayyerr ttthhaattt SSttoormmmmsss thhhe HHeeaaaaveeennsssThe minyan will, with Hashem's help, meet every day beginning from 16 Iyar until 26 Sivan, for precisely forty days. Forty days at a remote spot in the Galil. Forty days during which wonderful avreichim come every single day to pour their hearts out in prayer on behalf of all contributors
at this very special location.
On the final day, 26 Sivan, which is the anniversary of the passing of the G-dly
tanna Rabbi Yonason ben Uziel, who is buried at Amuka, a large and moving prayer session will take place, G-d willing, at the holy tziyun.
Maran Hagaon R' Yaakov Edelstein,
The minyan of torah scholars immersed in prayers on behalf of contributors to Kupat Ha'ir at the 40 day consecutive tefillah sessions in Amuka 5769.
shlit"a, who is well known for the power of his prayers and blessings – especially for singles searching for their soul mates – as in the past will lead the prayer sessions on the fortieth day. It is he who drew up a special prayer routine for the shlichei tzibbur who come to daven on behalf of contributors.
On Rav Edelstein's instructions, only G-d fearing Torah scholars who study Torah all day long were selected for this important job. In addition, those selected are ba'alei tefillah, people whose prayers have warmth and depth and feeling, the better to carry their words heavenward.
"People come and complain that they didn't merit a yeshuah," Maran, shlit"a, told us once. "It's important to be aware that this should not be treated as a business deal involving the exchange of yeshuos for money. The greatness of the yeshuah is in direct proportion to one's faith in Hashem and in prayer. Someone who is cognizant of the value of tzedakah to Kupat Ha'ir; someone who believes in the importance of the tefillos; someone who knows that Hashem is all-powerful and this is the worthiest form of hishtadlus – such a person's prayers are more easily heard and he is more likely to merit yeshuos.
UUnniiqquuuee PPPPraaayeeerr RoooouuttinnneeessA unique prayer routine was created to be recited before the recitation of the names of contributors. The members of the minyan try not to discuss mundane matters at all during the entire session. Every day for forty days, they recite Tehillim in a special order, slowly and with great fervor. (The recitation of Tehillim takes close to an hour – sometimes more than an hour –this before the recitation of the names!) Only then do they reverently recite the names of contributors, making sure to mention each name individually along with his or her personal request. Although they pray with great fervor and concentration, they take great care to pronounce the names correctly.
Maran Hagaon Harav Elyashiv, shlit"a, once told a messenger of Kupat Ha'ir at the Kosel that on Shabbos, the names should be recited without their accompanying requests (with the exception of requests for a refuah shleimah, which may be mentioned on Shabbos as well). In accordance with
this ruling, the Nadvorner Rebbe, shlit"a, and Maran Hagaon Harav Y. Edelstein, shlit"a, determined that the minyan at Amukah should gather on Motzei Shabbos before chatzos instead of on Shabbos. This does not break the consecutiveness of the forty days and the advantage of Motzei Shabbos is that the requests may be recited along with each name.
Shabbbbbooosss iinnn AAAAAmmmuuuukkaaahhhh!!This year, Maran Hagaon Harav Edelstein, shlit"a, decided to do the incredible. He wanted the forty days to be completely consecutive, with no interruption at all. In other words, he wanted the minyan to spend Shabbosos and the Yom Tov of Shavuos at Amukah.
Obviously, this proposition is far from simple to carry out, considering that Amukah is situated in a remote spot, far from any inhabited area. However, Kupat Ha'ir is never one to shy away from challenges or spare any effort to provide contributors with the very best. We immediately began making plans to set up a large tent, arrange for generators, see to food provisions and the like.
"This is just like erev Yom Kippur during the time of the Beis Hamikdash, when booths were set up for the messenger carrying the Azazel goat, and all of Klal Yisrael depended on him," Rav Edelstein said. "Now, too, we're setting up booths for the messengers of Kupat Ha'ir at Amukah and all of Klal Yisrael is depending on them to receive a yeshuah in the merit of their prayers."
This year, with Hashem's help, the minyan will pray for forty consecutive days, including all Shabbosos, without relying on the solution of praying on motzoei Shabbos instead of on Shabbos. This year, a minyan of messengers from Kupat Ha'ir will pray every day, every Shabos, for forty consecutive days with no interruption whatsoever.
Forttyy DDDaaayysss annndddd Foooorrttyyy NNNiigghhhtsThe plans for this project have created yet a different possibility – one that seems nearly impossible: 40 consecutive days and nights of tefillah. The double tefillah of ”40 days and 40 nights I shall fall before Hashem" the tefillah that generated immense
excitement when it took place at the Kosel Hama'aravi – now at Amukah as well! 40 consecutive days and 40 nights - day and night, day and night, erev Shabbos and leil Shabbos, Shabbos day and motzoei Shabbos and again Sunday morning and so on, for a total of 80 consecutive tefillos directly from the heart.
Excited at the prospect of this dream-come-true idea, the gabba'im of Kupat Ha'ir once again went to speak to Maran Harav Edelstein, shlit"a, to receive his instructions.
Rav Edelstein considered the situation and responded: "It's important to know that Hashem listens to every tefillah and places it in his treasurehouse. Even if one doesn't see a yeshuah immediately, each prayer is of tremendous value. There should be a certain sense of sipuk just from the tefillah, which creates a close bond with Hashem. In that case, the more tefillos, the better. This is especially the case with forty consecutive days of tefillah, which is how Moshe Rabbeinu a"h was answered. We see in the Torah that Moshe Rabbeinu emphasizes that he prayed for forty days and forty nights and was answered. Therefore forty days and nights of prayer at Amukah should certainly be organized.
"On the other hand," Rav Edelstein went on, "since, as I already said, the main yeshuah stems from the faith each individual places in the power of tzedakah and tefillah, and since not everyone will be able to afford this new program, it is important to also continue with the regular "forty-consecutive-days" prayer program. Offer the public both options and allow each person to choose what's best for him, in accordance with the urgency of his request and his wallet."
Of course, Maran's instructions will be carried out to the letter, and with Hashem's help, messengers of Kupat Ha'ir will daven at Amukah with 2 options:
1. 40 consecutive days including Shabbosos and Yom Tov. On Shabbos, only the names will be mentioned, without the requests, (see above). On motzoei Shabbos, the names will be recited aloud once again, this time along with the requests, (in accordance with the instructions of Maranan, shlit"a).
2. A double tefillah of 40 consecutive days and
nights, including leil Shabbos and Shabbos day until the yahrtzeit. In the words of Maran Harav Edelstein, shlit"a, Moshe Rabbeinu a"h, was answered after davening for 40 days and 40 nights, and this is the most select type of tefillah.
Each individual should choose the option that is best for him. Harav Edelstein will daven for everyone on the 40th day, the day of the yahrtzeit, and may Hashem hear our tefillos.
The VVVeerryyyy BBBBeeessstt,, TThhhhee VVVeeerryyy Bestt,, TTThhhhee VVVVeeerryyyy BBBBBeeesssttt
There is one goal to all these efforts: that the tefillos be super-powerful, the best they can be with maximum human hishtadlus.
Last year, numerous visits were made at the time that the minyan gathered, for the purpose of checking whether everything was running smoothly. Kupat Ha'ir's commitment to its contributors, who pay top dollar for the privilege of being included in these tefillos –is deep-seated and very powerful. Passersby who just happened to be at the site at the time the tefillos were held (the times had been publicized by Kupat Ha'ir) were amazed by the sense of earnestness and atmosphere of holy awe that characterized the tefillos.
The tefillah on the fortieth day was conducted with great fervor by Maran Harav Yaakov Edelstein, shlit"a. The event was so touching, the atmosphere so exalted, that those who were there will never forget it. At the time, Reb Yaakov refused to daven on behalf of someone who hadn't contributed to Kupat Ha'ir. "I'm here on a holy mission specifically for this purpose and only for this purpose," he said. It was obvious that he felt extremely emotional.
The GGaaattteeeess ooofff HHHHeeeeaaavvveeennnn OOOppen up – LLLeeett''ss NNNNooottt MMMMMissssss IItttt!!
Soon the forty-day period will begin.
At Kupat Ha'ir, the names have already begun coming in. They're waiting, longing, crying out. As the date draws closer, the number of names will increase as more and more Yidden look to the minyan who will be gathering to pray at Amukah for forty days.
It would be a crime to miss this once-a-year opportunity. It would be a terrible shame to lose the key that opens the Gates of Mercy. We dare not ignore the cries of those waiting for a yeshuah – any type of a yeshuah. We have the power to help them!
Brothers, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, neighbors, friends. If we only knew for certain that a contribution would, in fact, help them – wouldn't we do everything in our power to help them?
It is written in the holy Zohar that one who prays for something for forty days is sure to be answered (this is brought down in Beis Aharon, Parashas Noach, at the beginning of the sefer in
the likutim from the saintly Reb Usher of Stolin, zy"a). Is this the secret of the forty-day prayer session at Amukah? No one can say for sure. What we can say for sure is that last year, there was an abundance of engagement notices in the paper just as the forty-day period drew to a close as well as countless ebullient phone calls coming in to Kupat Ha'ir.
Really? Is there really a supernatural blessing thet so many see a yeshuah?
Kupat Ha'ir prefers not to answer such questions. We try to give the public the very best: the right people, the right times, under close supervision. The gates to Shamayim are in Hashem's hands as are the keys to a yeshuah. Only He can send yeshuos. No power in the world can bring a yeshuah that was not decreed by Hashem.
Still, people specifically seek the Kupat Ha'ir pipeline to merit yeshuos – and with good reason.
TThhrroouuugghhh Kuuupppaatt HHHHa''iir"Hashem loves Kupat Ha'ir and brings salvation to its contributors," people explain. In the words of Maran Hagaon
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Maran Hagaon Harav Y. Edelstein, shlit"a, immersed un prayer on behalf
of contributors to Kupat Ha'ir at the holy tziyun in Amuka on the
yahrtzteit, 26 Sivan 5769.
Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit"a: "The poor need money to live. To support
them, Hakadosh Baruch Hu brings salvation to contributors to Kupat Ha'ir, so they will contribute more and more."
Either way, the facts speak for themselves.
People are constantly meriting yeshuos, thank G-d. The news of each engagement is reason for incredible joy. Another two Jewish families have merited a yeshuah.
Many families have begun
contributing on behalf of their
children who are nearing shidduch
age. "Why wait for trouble to begin?"
people ask, logically enough. "Instead
of going through the exhausting
process of looking into suggestions
only to have them fizzle out, instead
of suffering disappointment at
negative responses and sitting through
meetings with potential mechutanim
only to hit a brick wall – we contribute
to a wonderful tzedakah organization,
submit the names for tefillah and wait
for Hashem to send us an abundance of
blessings!"
Other families have begun copying the idea. If this were purely a business proposition – you pay the required amount for a good shidduch, quickly and without aggravation – people would do it, too, perhaps on an even larger scale. How much happier people are to have the merit of contributing their money to such a wonderful cause and merit both this world (the fulfillment of their request) and the next!
"This is not a business proposition," Maran Harav Edelstein, shlit"a,
emphasizes. "It's a mitzvah, a beautiful mitzvah, a mitzvah for its own sake. The fulfilled requests are a bonus. The merit of the mitzvah is the main zechus!"
People merit yeshuos in many areas other than shidduchim. There are medical yeshuos, parnassah yeshuos, learning yeshuos and many more. The range of requests accompanying the names is astonishing. But it is only natural that the yeshuos we hear about most are related to shidduchim.
No Effffoooorrrtt SSSppppaaaaareeeeddd Kupat Ha'ir, in true Kupat Ha'ir fashion, is committed to its contributors.
The avreichim who daven on behalf of contributors are truly special talmidei chachamim who study diligently two or three sedarim a day. The tefillah timetable is arranged so as not to affect their learning schedules. In addition, these avreichim all have a reputation for being passionate daveners whose prayers emanate from the heart and have the power to arouse Heavenly mercy.
Kupat Ha'ir spares no efforts on behalf of its contributors. It would have been easy to arrange for the group to arrive at Amukah before sundown, when it is still "day," have them say Tehillim and read the names of the contributors and their requests aloud once, then have them daven maariv and repeat Tehillim and the names requesting a yeshuah, this time "at night." Such a solution would have cut down expenses and made the whole system easier.
But Kupat Ha'ir has other goals. "Once a day, the minyan can concentrate properly and daven with emotion. Twice a day, one time after another… not really…"
That's why Kupat Ha'ir arranged two separate minyanim to arrive at different times. Each member of each minyan comes to Amukah and prays for the first and only time each day especially on behalf of each individual contributor.
Maran Hagaon Harav Yaakov Edelstein, shlit"a, will complete the forty-day prayer session at a unique prayer event to be held at Amukah, with Hashem's help, on behalf of all contributors enrolled in the program.
Tefillos soar heavenward and tzedakah money contributed with a full heart make their way to desperate families. It is a powerful circle and all who take part sense the awesome zechus.
Impressions of the tefillah on the eve of 17 Sivan, 5769
Forty days they would be praying for my young son. Forty days at the holy site of Amukah, at the tziyun of Rabbi Yonason ben Uziel. Every so often, I called Kupat Ha'ir and inquired what day of tefillah they were up to. I wanted to be there at least one time to join in the prayers myself. But Amukah is far out and it's really quite difficult to get there. There's no public transportation to such a remote area.
One day, when the "ending date" was already on the horizon, I cleared my schedule and travelled to Amukah. The trip from Bnei Brak to Amukah is very long. I arrived toward evening, when the beautiful scenery in the area was already shrouded in shadow. The full moon hung like a large white ball in the sky, partially illuminating the darkness on the narrow, winding roads. We drove carefully around one bend, then another and another. My heart pounded. A
tiny sign showed the way. The road dropped sharply, causing the car to buck and shake.
Utter darkness. The headlights from passing cars pierced the darkness to reveal tight clusters of trees as we descended into the valley. Amukah owes its name to the depth of its location.
Suddenly, the roar of prayer soared up from the depths. The roar grew steadily stronger as we descended. I heard it refract into a number of different voices, a number of different rhythms, and together they formed a choir that could not
fail to strike a chord in my heart. The voices bounced off the surrounding
mountains and reverberated in the air. A faint light flickered
from the heart of the valley, painting the outline of a
building in the dimness. The car stopped. My feet walked toward the voices, which were very clear now. They were reciting Tehillim
and their tone of voice bespoke supplication and longing.
I walked hesitantly forward. Not wanting to disturb, I remained huddled in the corner. Shir Hama'alos mima'amakim… I heard one member of the minyan say. The emotion in his voice broke my heart. To have this psalm of all others greet me! The man davening was taking his time; I could tell he was putting his entire soul into this. The other voices blurred together in my ears.
Hashem shimah bekoli… I wanted to join. It was my son, my flesh and blood, he was praying for in this manner! Kivisi Hashem kivsa nafshi… My tears burst forth. I was still sobbing quietly when a different member of the minyan began Chapter 142. Koli el Hashem ezak ... el Hashem eschanan… how pleading his voice was, how filled with fervent emotion.
It was my child they were praying for like this, my child, the light of my life! My heart was flooded with uncontainable emotion. With the power of the public they were representing, these ten men were launching a super-powerful prayer to Shamayim. Their words were, in fact, stemming from the mouths of all those who had signed up for this prayer campaign! Yidden from Israel and America, from England, Brazil and France – it was as if everyone who had signed up had come here and everyone was praying together.
Another chapter of Tehillim and then another. My tears continued flowing. The members of the minyan were preoccupied with their prayers and paid me no mind. I found it impossible to believe that they had been here yesterday and the day before, too. Their earnestness, their concentration, their sincerity and emotion – it was like Yom Kippur eve.
The recitation of Tehillim came to an end.
The minyan began reciting the list of names. They divided the pages among themselves.
I watched out of the corner of my eye. Soon
they would come to my child… They recited the names in a slow, unhurried manner, with great concentration. Now and again I heard different members of the minyan repeat a certain name over and over and over again. In my mind's eye, I saw him literally knocking at the Gates of Heaven. The praying went on; the names ascended heavenward.
They don't know the people they're praying for, the thought occurred to me, but they care, they really do! You can tell. They recite each name so intently, and then they pray so pleadingly for a yeshuah in whatever area the contributor noted.
"May he be successful in the study of the holy Torah, may he be successful, may he be successful in the study of the holy Torah!" On to the next name. "May he find a suitable zivug quickly and easily, a worthy zivug, a w-o-r-t-h-y zivug easily!"
I wondered if the word worthy was underlined on the paper or the minyan member had decided to emphasize it on his own. The other members were reciting different names with equal concentration. Sometimes, one of them would linger a moment, pause and then return to the papers
co
Impressions of the tefillah on the eve of 17 Sivan, 5769
with increased concentration.
My gaze travelled over the room. Ten avreichim, most of them standing, were swaying back and forth in the manner of Yidden everywhere during prayer. They were glued to the papers as if their entire world lay there. Who were these men? From where had they come? I hadn't the faintest idea. All I saw was ten men who gave the impression of being truly G-d fearing. There was no mistaking their intense concentration, their caring, their fervence.
Suddenly, I heard my own child's name being called out. My child… My heart broke. Once again, my tears burst forth. They were reciting names and I was sobbing and all our prayers ascended heavenward together.
Let them have a lot of names, I found myself praying. I don't want this to end. I don't want to leave. I want to cleave to these people, to this wellspring of yeshuos. I want to hold on to this strong bond with the Ribono
shel Olam. I want to keep the magical change that has taken place in me.
The names came to an end. Not a single mundane word had been exchanged the entire time. The men recited the prayer said upon the completion of the fourth and fifth books of Tehillim with renewed fervor and I joined in silently. I hadn't recited sefer revi'i or chamishi; I'd been preoccupied with my prayers and tears and with watching them, but the pleading words burst from within me as well. Afterward, the men burst into song, fervent and passionate, unifying them as a group with the Ribono shel Olam. They left with the emergency lighting that had illuminated the area for them. I stood on the side and then followed them quietly.
As I left, I thought to myself that had I personally hired these men to pray on behalf of my child, they could not have been more serious, more intent, more fervent.
These were wonderful, precious avreichim. Purity was written all over their faces. Their emotion
was clearly evident in their voices. They had prayed with caring
and sincerity.
I returned home still in tears. I wanted already
to go back there. It had been a privilege to be present during that tefillah, a privilege to participate personally. May Hashem help all those Who raise their eyes heavenward to Him, who beseech Him at Amukah and any other place.
Moving Phone Calls to Kupat Ha'ir
Last year, thousands of people contributed to Kupat Ha'ir and asked to have their names prayed for at Amukah for 40 consecutive days. People trusted Kupat Ha'ir. They knew that when Kupat Ha'ir makes a promise, it stands behind its word and delivers. They knew the tefillos would take place consistently, amidst an appropriately serious atmosphere and that each name would be individually mentioned.
The period following the prayer session was exceptionally moving for Kupat Ha'ir. For the next two months (!!!), there were five or six – sometimes even seven or eight – telephone calls every day from chassanim or kallahs or family members who called to tell us that the tefillos had accomplished what they had been hoping for and that the yeshuah had come. In many homes, more than one child
got engaged – all within a surprisingly short time.
The number of engagement notices in the daily paper
increased conspicuously. The girls' seminaries were abuzz and the
atmosphere at yeshivos all over was tense with excitement: who would be next?
Here we present just a few of the more unusual stories. They're all completely authentic and verified. A few details have been changed where necessary to protect the identities of those involved.
On the Fortieth DayKupat Ha'ir received a number of phone calls on the fortieth day of prayer. These mazel tovs, in which a plate was broken on the fortieth day, aroused uncontainable euphoria at the office. There are many gates to Shamayim, but what could be better proof than an engagement smack on the fortieth day?
The phone calls were received by various people at the office – gabba'im, secretaries and the like. A discussion that collected the data from all the recipients of such phone calls brought to light a most astounding fact:
In all the cases where a couple celebrated its engagement on the fortieth day, both the chassan and the kallah appeared on the lists
of names that had been prayed for at Amukah!
"Within two months", Maran Harav Yaakov Edelstein, shlit"a, had told a number of people who had asked. "Within two months, be'ezras Hashem, and everything according to the level of one's bitachon". By the time the two months were up, we had received an astounding number of phone calls.
Even Stories That Began Like This –
"I have four children in need of a shidduch at home. Four! It's a little hard for me to contribute a thousand dollars all at once. Do you know how many expenses I have? It isn't easy supporting four adults at home."
The gabbai at Kupat Ha'ir who received this phone call commiserated.
"If, in the merit of the prayers at Amukah, you'll have to pay 5% less when you make an agreement with mechutanim, you'll already have earned those thousand dollars, no?"
The caller was silent, too confounded to respond.
"I was just joking. Seriously speaking, it's the Gedolei Hador who make all the decisions at Kupat Ha'ir.”
"But why is it so expensive?" His voice was softer now, more understanding.
"Bringing a minyan of avreichim – real
avreichim, men who study Torah throughout the day and who have a reputation for davening with depth and warmth – all the way to Amukah is a huge expense for Kupat Ha'ir. Kupat Ha'ir is not an organization that arranges tefillos for people seeking shidduchim, it's an organization that assists needy families. The money that comes in through these fundraisers is distributed among thousands of families for the purchase of basic necessities.”
"Okay. Some of the children have their own money. I can't afford to pay for this but if my children want to try it, it's their call. It's tzedakah, after all."
The phone call ended on a note of understanding.
Ended Like This!Some time passed and one daughter celebrated her engagement. A quick verification showed that she alone had contributed her own money in order to be included in the forty-day prayer session at Amukah.
"I never would have dreamed that she would be the first to get engaged,"her father, shocked and delighted, told the gabbai. "I didn't give this shidduch even a 20% chance of working out. Somehow, a miracle occurred. It's obvious that Kupat Ha'ir played a role here. What a pity I didn't have the
gumption to contribute on behalf of them all."
What a pity. Truly a pity. But that, too, is min- haShamayim. Maybe the time had not yet arrived for the other children to find their zivugim, so he was prevented from contributing. Who knows?
Four Out of FiveA different Yid contributed on behalf of five older singles. Five. No more than forty days passed before the Yid called to say that his 29-year-old son had gotten engaged! His joy knew no bounds. Amidst the sea of expenses, he forgot that the engagement had "cost" him 250 dollars; all he remembered was the tefillos at Amukah. A short while later, his second son, age 27, celebrated his engagement as well. The father could not contain his joy. Another short while passed and the 25-year-old became a chassan. Two months after that, his 23-year-old daughter was a kallah. Maybe the fifth is engaged by now, too – who knows? One thousand two hundred and fifty dollars to tzedakah and chessed amidst the mountain of expenses of marrying off four children. But who thinks of money in the face of the pain, and then the joy, of older singles and their parents?
There are more and more stories, many similar to one another, some completely unique. Kupat Ha'ir doesn't look for the most dramatic
incidents. We are well aware that each simchah is the personal drama of a particular family, even if "only"one 21-year-old found his match.
Still, some stories are truly mind-blowing.
A Window to the World of Yeshuos
The stories keep rolling in. People call who can barely speak for excitement. The yeshuos surpass their wildest expectations.
The time, the place, the select group of people praying, the blessings of the Gedolei Hador, the powerful merit of tzedakah … which of these was responsible for the yeshuah? No one can say. Hashem's ways are hidden to us.
But the Ribono shel Olam has opened for us a window to the world of yeshuos:
Forty days of prayer at Amukah by Kupat Ha'ir!
Day Night
Sun-Thurs � 1:40 p.m. � 8:45 p.m.
Friday � 9:30 a.m. � Friday night after ma'ariv
Shabbos � 5:00 p.m. � Motzoei Shabbos 10:00
Timetable of Tefillos for the Minyan of Kupat Ha'ir Messengers at Amukah
Timings listed are according to the Israel clocks
Instructions From the Gedolei and Tzaddikei Hador For Kupat Ha'ir's
Historic 40-Consecutive-Day Prayer Program at Amukah
� It is written in the holy Zohar that one who prays for something for 40 days will surely be answered (this is brought down in Beis Aharon Parashas Noach, likutim from the saintly R’ Asher of Stolin, zy”a.)
� There is an inyan of ”40 consecutive tefillos" The source is from the Gemara tanna lei 40 zimnin (Maran
Hagaon Harav Y. Edelstein, shlit"a).
� Every day, the minyan will recite sefer revi'i and chamishi of Tehillim and thereafter recite each name individually, along with its accompanying request, slowly and with concentration.
� The minyan of Kupat Ha'ir messengers will spend Shabbos and Yom Tov close to the tziyun and pray and mention each individual name (without the accompanying requests, as per the instructions of Maran Hagaon Harav Elyashiv, shlit"a to messengers from Kupat Ha'ir at the Kosel). On Motzoei Shabbos, they will recite the names once more, this time with the accompanying requests. According to instructions from Maranan, shlit"a, this counts as if the request was mentioned on Shabbos.
� Before the yahrtzeit, a special tefillah headed by Maran Hagaon Harav Yaakov Edelstein, shlit”a, will be held at the tziyun in Amukah. Rav Edelstein will pray on behalf of all contributors that they merit yeshuah and blessing during this eis ratzon.
You can join for 40 days of prayer at Amukah,
including Shabbosos and Yomim Tovim,
or for 40 consecutive days and nights.
To: Maranan Verabanan Gedolei Vetzaddikei Hador, Shlit"a
and the Minyan of Kupat Ha'ir Messengers at the Tziyun of the Tanna Rabbi Yonason ben Uziel in Amukah
Please daven for me for 40 consecutive days at the holy tziyun in Amukah, known to be an auspicious
place for finding a worthy mate.
Please have a minyan of outstanding Torah scholars mention these
names individually, along with their accompanying requests, slowly and
with concentration
for 40 consecutive days and nightsincluding Shabbos and Yom Tov
[$250 per name]
Please have a minyan of outstanding Torah scholars mention these
names individually, along with their accompanying requests, slowly and
with concentration
for 40 consecutive days, including Shabbos and Yom Tov
[ $180 per name]
The Name:_____________________________________________
The Request:___________________________________________
