Praying by Gravesite

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How to pray by the gravesite:

At the grave of a Tzaddik one is to pray to Hashem to answer his prayers in the merit of the Tzaddikim.[1] Likewise one may ask the Tzaddik to intervene on one’s behalf and pray to G-d for the matters which he needs.[2] Some are accustomed to recite the following prayer near the grave “May it be G-d’s will that the resting place of this person be with honor and his merit will stand on my behalf”.[3] It is customary to recite a compilation of Psalm’s and prayers assembled in the booklet entitled “Maanah Lashon” upon visiting a gravesite of a Tzaddik.[4] It is likewise customary to write a Pa”n [see “Erev Rosh Hashanah” Halacha 15] and read it by the Ohel[5], [tearing it upon concluding its reading and placing it near the burial site.] [It is best to read the Pa”n towards the area of the Tzaddik’s holy feet. If there are two Tzaddikim buried there then it is to be read in between the graves by the feet.[6]]

[1] Machatzis Hashekel 581/16; Drashos Mahril; Elya Raba 581/39; M”B 581/27

Other Opinions: The Ritva writes that one is not to Daven inside a cemetery due to the prohibition of Loeg Larash and rather he is to Daven outside the cemetery. [Machazik Bracha 581/7; Kaf Hachaim 581/91]

[2] Peri Megadim 581/16 based on the prayers found in the Maaneh Lashon; Kaf Hachaim 581/95 and 98 based on Shlah; Minchas Elazar 1/68 [brings many proofs from Midrashim; Talmud; Zohar]; Alef Hamagen 581/113; Minchas Yitzchak 8/53;  Piskeiy Teshuvos 581/21; See Maharam Shick 293 for a list of opinions on this matter; See Taanis 16a “So they arouse mercy on our behalf”

Other Opinions: Some Poskim are of the opinion that it is forbidden to ask the Tzaddik to intervene on ones behalf due to Doresh El Hameisim and one may only pray to Hashem in the merit of the Tzaddik. [See Drashos Mahril; Elya Raba 581/39; Levush 579; Machatzis Hashekel 581/16; M”E 581/50; M”B 581/27; Kitzur SHU”A 128/13 which writes one is not to place his focus on the Tzaddik.]

[3] Kaf Hachaim 581/92; Alef Hamagen 581/110

[4] Sefer Haminhagim p. 117 [English]

[5] Otzer Minhagei Chabad 48

[6] Hiskashrus 884 based on Reshimos of Rebbe Rayatz regarding the custom of his father in Lubavitch

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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