AND JACOB SET UP A PILLAR UPON HER GRAVE. R. Jose said: ‘He did this in order that her burial-place should never be forgotten until the day when God shall raise the dead to life. This is borne out by the phrase: “unto this day”, which means until that great day.’
R. Judah said: ‘It means, until the day when the Shekinah will return with the exiles of Israel to that spot, as it is written: “And there is hope for thy future, saith the Lord; and thy children shall return to their own border” (Jer. 31, 17). This is the oath which God swore unto her; and Israel are destined, when they return from exile, to stop at Rachel’s grave and weep there as she wept over Israel’s exile. It is thus written: “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them” (Ibid. 9); also: “for thy work shall be rewarded” (Ibid. 16). And at that time Rachel who lies on the way will rejoice with Israel and with the Shekinah. The Companions have thus expounded all this.’
וַיַּצֶּב יַעֲקֹב מַצֵּבָה עַל קְבוּרָתָהּ, אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, מַאי טַעְמָא. בְּגִין דְּלָא אִתְכַּסְיָא אַתְרָהּ עַד יוֹמָא דְּזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַאֲחָיָיא מֵתַיָיא. כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר עַד הַיּוֹם, עַד הַהוּא יוֹמָא מַמָּשׁ.
AND JACOB SET UP A PILLAR UPON HER GRAVE. R. Jose said: ‘He did this in order that her burial-place should never be forgotten until the day when God shall raise the dead to life. This is borne out by the phrase: “unto this day”, which means until that great day.’
רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר, עַד יוֹמָא דְּתֵהְדַר שְׁכִינְתָּא בְּגָלוּתְהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (ירמיהו ל״א:י״ז) וְיֵשׁ תִּק2וה לְאַחֲרִיתֵךְ נְאֻם יְיָ וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם. וְדָא אוֹמָאָה דְּאוֹמֵי לָהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וּזְמִינִין יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּד יְתוּבוּן מִן גָּלוּתָא, לְקָיְימָא עַל הַהִיא קְבוּרָה דְרָחֵל וּלְמִבְכֵּי תַּמָּן. כְּמָה דְאִיהִי בָּכַאת עַל גָּלוּתְהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, (ירמיהו ל״א:ט׳) בִּבְכִי יָבֹאוּ וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים אוֹבִילֵם וְגו'. וּכְתִיב, (ירמיהו ל״א:ט׳) כִּי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעוּלָתֵךְ. וּבְהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא זְמִינַת רָחֵל דְּאִיהִי בְאָרְחָא לְמֶחֱדֵי בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְעִם שְׁכִינְתָּא וְאוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא:
R. Judah said: ‘It means, until the day when the Shekinah will return with the exiles of Israel to that spot, as it is written: “And there is hope for thy future, saith the Lord; and thy children shall return to their own border” (Jer. 31, 17). This is the oath which God swore unto her; and Israel are destined, when they return from exile, to stop at Rachel’s grave and weep there as she wept over Israel’s exile. It is thus written: “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them” (Ibid. 9); also: “for thy work shall be rewarded” (Ibid. 16). And at that time Rachel who lies on the way will rejoice with Israel and with the Shekinah. The Companions have thus expounded all this.’