Thousands to Walk to Kever Rochel on Yahrtzeit
Thousands of people who arrive at Kever Rochel during the peak hours of the yahrtzeit on Monday night will have to get off the buses at the Yellow Gate and walk to the kever and back, police have decided.
The numbers of people thronging to Kever Rochel on the yahrtzeit has seen a steady increase. According to estimates, last year, more than 70,000 people arrived in a span of 24 hours, creating enormous pressure at the site, especially late in the evening on the eve of the yahrtzeit.
The yahrtzeit will be marked Tuesday, 11 Cheshvan, with Monday night expected to see the peak crowds.
In recent years, various efforts were made to ease the crush. There is also a security concern, in that Kever Rochel is situated on the outskirts of Beit Lechem, an area considered hostile to the Jewish public.
In the past, people came on their own to the Teddy Stadium, where they boarded shuttle buses to Kever Rochel and back. Those using public transportation could take buses directly to Kever Rochel.
However, despite all the attempts at a solution, there have been bottlenecks at the peak hours, between 10 and 12 at night. As a result, buses cannot reach the site, traffic is halted, and police have to suspend public transportation to the kever from the capital for several hours.
This article appeared in print on page 7 of edition of Hamodia.
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