עברית
Halachot and Customs
How is it Permissible to Prostrate on the Graves of Tzaddikim?
Question
Honorable Rabbi, I have had a troubling question for a long time and would appreciate if you could help me understand better. In recent centuries, Jewish tradition includes customs of prayer and celebration at the graves of tzaddikim who have passed away, such as the celebration at Meron, the celebration at Uman, the Chabad Rebbe's yahrzeit, and prostrating on the graves of tzaddikim. Is this not in direct contradiction to the verse in Tehillim stating "The dead do not praise Hashem"? Is this not the way of the nations, who would celebrate and pray to the dead, and thus Tehillim warns us not to sin in their way? I would be grateful for an answer, thank you in advance.
Answer
Greetings,
1. The source for the custom among Israel to go pray at the graves of tzaddikim is found in the Gemara Sotah (34b), regarding Caleb who rejected the spies' counsel and went to prostrate at the graves of the Patriarchs and said to them: "My ancestors, pray for mercy on my behalf that I will be saved from the spies' counsel."
2. It is forbidden to seek from the dead — that is, to address the tzaddik buried there and ask him to fulfill your requests. However, it is permitted to go to the grave of a tzaddik and ask Hashem to fulfill your requests by virtue of the tzaddik buried there, and it is also permissible to request that he intercede on your behalf in prayer before Hashem (see Shut Yevia Omer, Part 4, Yoreh Deah 31:6, and Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Noraim, pages 52–54).
Blessings, Hillel Meirs
