Nach:

Shmuel,  Yirmiyahu 

Parsha:

Vayechi,  Vayishlach 

Description

When Yaakov turns to bless Yosef and (/or) his sons, he makes mention of his burying Rahel "on the road", giving the same obscure location markers as the narrative provides when she died (in Parashat Vayishlach). The location of her burial site (and the birth of Binyamin), commonly assumed to be just north of the modern town of Beit Lechem, is challenged by an explicit mention in Sefer Shmuel as well as by several Midr'shei Haza"l. We survey the relevant sources and cite support for both the "northern theory", which posits her burial spot north of Yerushalayim, as well as the "southern theory", defended by Prof. Yoel Elizur. This shiur was given in memory of Rav Etshalom's mother, מרים בת יצחק ורבקה ז"ל. Yahrzeit - 9Tevet. יהי זכרה ברוך