Rachel died and was buried on the way to Efrat, which is Bethlehem. And Yaakov placed a monument on her grave which is the monument of Rachel’s grave unto this day.”

(Bereishit 35:19)

Although Beit Lechem achieved fame in later years as the birthplace and early home of King David, it is principally associated with the Tomb of Rachel.

Our Sages tell us that Yaakov buried her there on Divine orders so that when Nevuzaradan, the Babylonian conqueror of Eretz Yisrael, would lead her children into exile past her tomb, Mother Rachel would rise from her grave to pray to Heaven for their return.

Bethlehem is today populated exclusively by Arabs, but the Tomb of Rachel continues to attract Jews from all over the world who revere it as a prayer site second only to the Cave of the Machpeilah in Chevron.