On the second day of Rosh Hashana Jews throughout Eretz Yisrael and the world will hear an echo of a Divine response to the weeping of a matriarch. The haftara that is read on that day speaks of Rachel Imeinu weeping for her children in exile.
Tradition has it that she was buried in Beit Lechem and not in Me’arat Hamachpela in Chevron along with the other patriarchs and matriarchs, so that her tomb would be on the route taken by her people on the way to exile in Babylon. She would then arise from her grave and tearfully pray for their return.
"Keep your voice from weeping," came the Divine response found in our haftara, "and your eyes from tears, for your efforts will be rewarded and they shall come back home."
