The Mystery of the Red String
Chances are you've seen it worn by the famous, the infamous, and the not-so-famous. What is "it"? A piece of red string or thread wrapped around the wrist. What is so special about the red string?

Those who wear the red string may have several answers, "It comes from the Tomb of the Jewish Matriarch, Rachel." They may add, "It's an amulet for spiritual and physical blessing." They may even proclaim, "It protects me against an Aiyin Hara, "the evil eye of jealousy." The truth is, it may be all that and much more. But to really understand the power of the red thread, you first must understand the greatness of Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother).

The Red String: A Bracelet for Blessings
According to tradition, a red string is wound around the stone marker over Rachel's grave seven times, while reciting various Hebrew prayers. Including Psalm 33, the mystical prayer Ana B'Koach and Asher Yatzar. The string is then cut into bracelet size lengths and is worn on the left hand as a symbolic request for spiritual and physical protection and blessings.

No one actually knows how or exactly when the custom of wearing a red string began. But we do know that every detail contains deep significance.

The Concept of Rachel according to Kabbalah
The name Rachel is related to the Hebrew word, rachil, meaning "a lamb" or "sheep." A lamb stands still while it is being sheared. This symbolizes humility. The lesson is that we must humble ourselves before G-d like a lamb before its master.

Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother) also represents the World of Speech. It represents another form of humility, in that speech has no "power" in and of itself. It merely reveals the thought of the one who is speaking. So too, we should submit ourselves to the Will of G-d.

The Ideals of Rachel
Just as Rachel did not envy Leah's good fortune (only her good deeds), similarly we pray that no one envy our success. Just as Rachel prayed for children and was answered, we pray that the childless be blessed with children. And just Rachel was cured of her affliction, so too may the ill be returned to good health.

The Concept of a String and the Color Red
Every morning, "a thread of grace prevails" and G-d renews the world for another day. The string symbolizes that "thread of grace."

While the Hebrew word for "red," adom, emphasizes the unique relationship between man and his Creater. For example, adom is related to many words such as adama "earth, dam, "blood," adam "man," and Adam HaElyon, "Supernal man." Red also reminds us of teshuva, the need to return to G-d by improving our ways, as the sages say, "If your sins be as crimson, they will be as white as snow."

Seven Times and the Left Hand
The "seven times" correspond to seven days of the week, symbolizing the need for G-d's constant protection. It also symbolizes the seven emotional attributes, the seven times a bride encircles a groom, and the seven G-dly emanations (sefirot). It may also recall the merit of the seven Holy Shepherds responsible for bringing the Divine Presence down to Earth.

It is also known that the left heart is full of blood and is home to the Nefesh, the vitalizing animal soul in a person. Wearing the string around the left hand reminds the person of the "battle" that must be waged against one's selfish urges.

Psalm 33
The number 33 correlates to the concept of the teshuva, as the Talmud (Sanhedrin 103a) states that the wicked King Menashe repented for 33 years and G-d received him." We also find that the 33rd day between Passover and the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) is a time that is associated with elevation and situations changing for the better.

The Psalm itself consists of three parts: an introduction, a middle part consisting of seven "sections" of recognition, and a conclusion thanking and praising G-d for his deliverance.

Ana B'Koach
This mystical poem consists of seven lines with six words per line. The total of 42 words corresponds to one of the Holy Names of G-d. The initial letters of each word also refer to this Holy Name. Interestingly, the Jewish people made 42 stops on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Each step represented another step on the ladder of holiness. According to the founder of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, each individual must make the same spiritual journey during his/her lifetime. Perhaps saying this mystical poem is a way of asking for G-d's assistance and protection during these 42 stages of one's life. More on the Ana B'Koach

Wearing the Red String
As you can see from all this, the Red String Bracelet is a means, rather than an end. It serves as a channel to help awaken in ourselves and in the One Above our desire for connection and protection. Wearing the Red String signals your intention to open yourself up to receive G-d's blessings by trying to become a better person, by performing acts of goodness and kindness, and by remembering that humility is not only an attribute of G-d, its the sign of a G-dly person. Finally, wearing the Red String signals your belief in the righteous merit of our Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother).

The Story Of Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother)
Of places in the world, the Holy Land portrays G-d's glory to Man. And of all the saintly people who walked the Holy Land, the Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother) portrays the glory of man to G-d. What is so special about Rachel? If you are familiar with the Bible, you already know most of the story.

The Bible declares that Jewish Patriarch Isaac was old and unable to see. In order to bestow blessings upon his first-born son, Isaac orders Esau to hunt and prepare venison. However, Rebecca realizes that Jacob truly deserves those blessings, not Esau. She prepares food and dresses Jacob in the clothes of his older brother Esau. After querying his son, Isaac eats the meal that Rebecca has made and blesses Jacob.

Esau returns from hunting and learns that Jacob has taken "his" blessings. Outraged, he vows to kill his younger brother in revenge. Rebecca learns of his plans and commands Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Haran, where he should take a wife. Jacob does as he is told and escapes to Haran. There, he meets and falls in love with Laban's daughter Rachel. Jacob serves Laban for seven years to earn the right to marry Rachel. However at the last moment, Laban deceives Jacob into marrying Leah. Jacob then must work another seven years for Rachel.

On the surface, it sounds as if Laban has tricked Rachel and Jacob. However, Jewish tradition teaches us differently. Preconditioned by years of Laban's deceptions, Jacob and Rochel prepare signs to identify each other within the silent darkness of the marriage tent. When the time comes, Rachel sees her father escorting Leah to the wedding tent. Knowing that her sister's identity would be quickly discovered, Rachel gives Leah the signs so that she wouldn't be humiliated.

It was a supreme act of selflessness. And what was Rachel's "reward"?

Rachel sees her sister in the arms of the one that she loves. She watches Leah give birth to one son after another, while she remains childless. She pleads with her husband for children only to be told in his frustration that, "G-d has withheld children from you, and not me." Eventually, her prayers are answered and she gives birth to a son, Yosef. However, her joy is not complete and she prayers for another son. G-d answers her prayers. However, the birth of Binyomin is accompanied by her own death. Finally, she is buried "on the road to Efrat -- now Bethlehem." (Genesis 35:16-21) Even in her death, Rachel must remain apart from her husband, who will eventually rest in Hebron with Leah.

Rachel's life was tragic. Yet throughout her suffering, Rachel remained absolutely faithful to G-d above and to her children here in this world below. In fact, the sages state that Jacob buried Rachel on the roadside so that she could pray for them as they were being led into Exile, as Jeremiah 3:15-17 states, "Rachel, weeping for her children, she refuses to be comforted for her children who are gone. Thus said G-d: 'Restrain your voice from weeping, your eyes from shedding tears for there is reward for your labor' declares G-d. 'They shall return from the enemy's land and there is hope for the future' declares G-d: 'Your children shall return to their own country.'

Rachel's Tomb. A Place of Hope and Healing.
Ever since her passing, thousands of men, women, and children have journeyed to the Tomb of Rachel (Kever Rochel) to request her intercession on their behalf. The barren pray for children. The sick pray for health. The lost and the troubled pray for release and relief. And no one ever leaves empty-handed. For Emeinu (Our Mother) always gives her blessings.

Jacob must have known that her resting place would become, like Jerusalem, a destination for pilgrims. Therefore, the Bible writes, "Over her grave Jacob put up a pillar, it is the pillar at Rachel's grave to this day." (Genesis 35:20-21)

According to the Jewish sages, the original monument was a pillar of 13 stones. Each of Jacob's 12 sons placed a stone on Rachel's grave, with Jacob's stone on top. It remained there, on the side of the road, for hundreds of years. From the Byzantine period (fifth century C.E.) until the 1800's, Rachel's Tomb consisted of an open dome. In 1841, Sir Moses Montefiore renovated the Tomb, constructed an anteroom, and enclosed the dome.

Today, Rachel's Tomb has been surrounded by a building complete with reinforced concrete barriers and guard towers, but the ancient interior remains pure and seemingly unaffected by time or technology.