Crown Heights Beis Din Details Special Arrangements for Kohanim Visiting the Ohel Ahead of Gimmel Tammuz

by CrownHeights.info

With Gimmel Tammuz approaching, Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’Asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, has issued a public letter outlining the halachic arrangements in place for Kohanim who wish to visit the Ohel of the Rebbe during the days surrounding the yahrtzeit.

In the letter, dated 22 Sivan, 5786, Rabbi Braun writes that this year’s setup at the Ohel will once again be arranged in the manner most accommodating to Kohanim according to all opinions, under the close supervision of recognized Torah scholars who personally ensured that every detail. He stressed, however, that the entire arrangement depends on the mechitzos and setup remaining undisturbed, and he asked the public not to touch or tamper with them in any way.

Several halachic improvements made this year were specifically highlighted in the letter.

There are currently no trees overhanging the sidewalk along Francis Lewis Boulevard, allowing Kohanim to walk the entire length of the sidewalk up to the fence without concern. Along the full length of the line leading to the Ohel, the covering above has been confirmed not to overhang any tumah, and high partitions have been erected, permitting Kohanim to stand under the covering even within the halachically sensitive four-tefach radius of the graves. The trees near the line area likewise do not overhang the covering. Additionally, beneath the bridge that crosses over graves on the way out of the Ohel, there is a halachically significant gap (a “pesach tefach”), the bridge’s supports do not fall beneath the walking path, and the surrounding partitions are unusually high — making passage there permissible for Kohanim as well.

The letter also lays out specific practical guidance for visitors:

– Upon leaving the cemetery, one should walk along the middle of the path to remain four tefachim from the graves on either side.

– Within the structure surrounding the Rebbe’s gravesite itself, a Kohen may not extend his hand over the partition; a note (pa”n) may instead be handed to someone else to place inside.

– Adults are cautioned not to bring a minor who is a Kohen into any restricted area, and not to allow a child to sit on the fence or extend a hand or body over the graves.

– A dedicated path will be available for women. A Kohen’s wife in her ninth month of pregnancy — whom some halachic authorities advise against entering a cemetery — may use this path, provided she does not extend her hand over the partition near the graves.

– No one, Kohen or not, may enter the Ohel carrying an umbrella, so as not to create a stumbling block for Kohanim. Visitors standing under any covered section are likewise asked not to lean on or reach a hand past the partition.

Rabbi Braun’s letter includes a note of appreciation to Harav Avrohom Abba Refson, who is credited with organizing the arrangements for Kohanim at the Ohel year-round, as well as to Harav Menachem Mendel HaKohen Weisfish and Harav Menachem Mendel Rottenberg for their assistance and on-site oversight of the details.

The letter closes with a heartfelt prayer for the imminent fulfillment of techiyas hameisim and the coming of the geulah, expressing the hope that the Rebbe’s directive to be among the “zerizin” — those who act with the alacrity associated with Kohanim — should hasten the complete redemption speedily in our days.

A full translation of the letter follows below.

Translation of the Letter

Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun Member of the Beis Din of Crown Heights Rav of the Krown Heights community

B”H, Sunday, 22 Sivan, 5786

To whom it may concern,

In response to many inquiries, I am writing to inform [the public] that this year as well, the arrangement at the holy Ohel during the days surrounding Gimmel Tammuz will be set up in the manner most beneficial for Kohanim, according to all opinions (as detailed in the note below). All of this is under the supervision of recognized Torah scholars, who have watched carefully to ensure that everything is done in the best possible way, for the benefit of the Kohanim.

Naturally, this all depends on there being no change or disruption to the partitions and to the arrangement. It is therefore essential and vital not to handle or touch the partitions in any way.

Likewise, Kohanim must be careful regarding all the laws of Kohen-related ritual impurity, both during these days and throughout the rest of the year.

Specifically:

a. Upon leaving the cemetery, one should walk along the middle of the path, in order to remain four tefachim away from the graves on both sides.

[Footnote: Here is the place to express thanks and appreciation to Harav HaChossid Avrohom Abba Refson, who has devoted his time, etc., to arranging all of the above for the benefit of the Kohanim, and who stands at his post — never leaving the Ohel — to organize everything needed for those who come to the holy Ohel throughout the entire year, summer and winter, day and night, all done in the best possible manner. May the Holy One repay his good reward, along with all who serve the public faithfully.]

[Footnote — Several improvements made again this year: a. There are no trees at all overhanging the sidewalk on Francis Lewis Boulevard, and Kohanim may walk along the entire sidewalk up to the fence, with no concern whatsoever. b. Along the entire path where the line passes, the covering does not overhang any tumah, and high partitions have been erected, so that Kohanim are permitted to stand beneath the covering — even within four tefachim of the graves. (See Shu”t Shevet HaKehasi vol. 1, §318; and see our own Shu”t Be’asra DeRav §414.) c. All the trees near the line-passage area do not overhang the covering. d. Beneath the bridge that passes over the graves on the way out of the holy Ohel there is a “pesach tefach” [a halachically significant gap of one handbreadth], and the bridge’s supports do not fall beneath the walking path, and the partitions are very high — therefore Kohanim are permitted to pass through there.]

[Footnote: Thanks and blessing to the two “golden vessels” — Harav HaChossid HaRav Menachem Mendel HaKohen Weisfish, for his assistance, and Harav HaChossid HaRav Menachem Mendel Rottenberg, for his on-site oversight of all the details.]

b. Within the structure surrounding the holy gravesite itself, it is forbidden for a Kohen to extend his hand over the partition. One may instead hand the note (pa”n) to someone else to place it inside.

c. “Warn the adults regarding the children”: We are cautioned not to bring a minor who is a Kohen into a place forbidden to him, and care must be taken not to seat him on the fence, or to let him extend his hand or body over the graves.

d. A separate path will be designated for women. A Kohen’s wife who is in her ninth month of pregnancy — whom, according to some opinions, should refrain from entering a cemetery — is permitted to use this path, but she must be careful not to extend her hand over the partition near the graves.

e. It is forbidden for anyone — even one who is not a Kohen — to enter the holy Ohel carrying an umbrella, so as not to create a stumbling block for Kohanim. Similarly, one should not lean on or pass a hand beyond the partition while standing under any covered section.

[Footnote: When standing close to the holy gravesite itself, there are four tefachim plus the thickness of the wall, so there is no concern. Regarding passage on the other side, behind the headstone, see our own Shu”t Be’asra DeRav §437.]

[Footnote: Or one may hand it over by tossing it.]

May it be G-d’s will that we merit, immediately and in truth, the fulfillment of “Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust” — in the words of the Rebbe: that the time has arrived for “those who dwell in the dust to awaken and sing” — for the Previous Rebbe, leader of our generation, and for the ultimate awakening of Dovid Malka Meshicha — bringing about, as it were, the acceleration of “I, the L-rd, will hasten it” through the alacrity that exists Above — “your G-d is a Kohen,” and “Kohanim are zealous (zerizin)” — to redeem the Jewish people with the greatest possible swiftness, immediately and in truth, “the Almighty did not delay them even the blink of an eye.”

[Footnote: Sefer HaSichos 5748, vol. 1, pp. 350–1; ibid. p. 354.]

And “speedily in our days, and in our own time, and below ten tefachim, may we all merit to see the Rebbe, and may he take us out of the spiritual and physical exile, and bring us to the complete redemption, speedily in our days.”

[Footnote: D”H Bati L’Gani 5711, end — from a recording.]

With great respect,

Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun Mara D’Asra and member of the Beis Din of the Crown Heights community