Journey of the Soul

Join Bassy or Rabbi Chaim on a 36-hour journey to the Ohel, the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, and on a guided tour of Crown Heights, Brooklyn — the heart of the Chabad movement.

New York City  ~  $199*

Rebbe

What’s Included

All trips include meals, transportation, tours and more.

*Airfare and accommodations are not included, though we will be in touch to coordinate and provide recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch770 Eastern ParkwayRebbe's Room770 Broadcast RoomTorahsPastrami
Travel through New York City and take in the surroundings as you go.
Soak up history at our country’s most sacred Jewish sites with Bassy or Rabbi Chaim to lead the way.
Sample the authentic flavors of Kosher cuisine, from a New York bagel to Glatt Kosher BBQ.

“Schneerson, known as the Rebbe, died in 1994, and in the past two decades his burial site has turned into a place of pilgrimage for Jews, who trek here from around the world to write prayers on scraps of paper and toss them on the Rebbe’s grave — 24 hours a day…”

—The New York Times

“At a time when many religious Jews agonize about their continued access to the ancient and hallowed vaults of the patriarchs... this place in Queens has for growing numbers become no less sacrosanct… while all of the Jewish faithful still look upon the Temple Mount and its remnant Western Wall in Jerusalem as the focus of their prayers and hopes, the supplicants and expressions of faith here seems no less fervent.”

—Killing the Buddha

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the core activities and themes of each trip?
All of our trips include a visit to the Ohel (the Rebbe's resting place), and the must-see sites of the Chabad community, like 770 Eastern Parkway, the Rebbe's Study and the Chabad Library — so don't worry about missing out! Your trip itinerary will depend on your dates, interests, and other factors, however, all our trips are well rounded.

Why was the Rebbe buried in Queens, New York?
The Ohel is located in the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights, Queens. This same cemetery is the resting place of the Rebbe’s father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, who passed away and was buried there in 1950, and for whom the original mausoleum structure was built. After the Rebbe’s passing in 1994, he was buried alongside his predecessor. 

Who is the trip organizer?
The trip organizer is the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County, and its co-directors Bassy Landa or Rabbi Chaim Landa coordinate and accompany each trip. 

What are the costs involved?
The $199 trip fee includes meals, transportation and tours. In addition to this fee, there is the cost of flights to New York and accommodations for one night (that said, we will help coordinate and provide recommendations).

In what ways is the Ohel unique?
It is one of the only, if not the only, prayer center in the entire New York City area that is open to the public and staffed 24 hours a day. A visitors center built adjacent to the cemetery has a place for people to pray, study, purchase Judaica as well as enjoy some light refreshments.

This trip sounds too good to be true? What's the catch?
There's no catch! This trip was set-up to give the St. Charles community an opportunity to experience this soulful journey that hundreds of thousands enjoy every year.

About the Rebbe

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (1902-1994), known simply as “the Rebbe,” was one of the most remarkable personalities of the 20th century. In 1994 he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his “extraordinary life and work.” He is considered the most influential rabbi in modern history.

The Rebbe engineered a global Jewish renaissance in the aftermath of the Holocaust and, at the same time, rallied toward a universal vision for a better world. He believed in the need for a moral education among children, and championed the establishment of a cabinet-level Department of Education. Each year since 1978 he has had an American national day—Education and Sharing Day U.S.A.—proclaimed in his honor by the President of the United States.

His counsel was sought by statesmen and artists as diverse as Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Robert F. Kennedy, Yitzchak Rabin, Herman Wouk, Elie Wiesel, Shirley Chisholm and Bob Dylan, as well as countless “nameless” individuals who were each showered with his attention and love.

Despite his stature and accomplishments, he was a tremendously modest man and, unlike any other leader of his importance, was remarkably accessible to anyone who wanted to meet him. He counseled visitors from a wide array of backgrounds well into the middle of the night and was known for his Sunday tradition in which he would stand for as long as four or five hours, into his high eighties, handing thousands of people, one by one, a dollar and a blessing.

His teachings about the inherent goodness of all mankind and the infinite potential of every individual and each good deed continue to be a guiding force as a generation of both Jews and non-Jews seek to positively change the world for the better.

About the Rebbe’s Resting Place

For more than twenty-nine years since the Rebbe’s passing, millions of people from all walks of life have beaten a path to his Queen's resting place, known as the Ohel. The welcome center at the Ohel is open and busy 24 hours a day, and the site has become somewhat of a New York City landmark.

The Rebbe's resting place is considered a place of deep spiritual sanctity. Throughout the year, 400,000 people—Jews and non-Jews—frequent it, seeking blessings, spiritual guidance and inspiration. In addition to personal visits, the Rebbe's resting place annually receives millions of prayer requests via email and fax.

The term Ohel (lit. “tent”) refers to the structure built over the resting place of a tzaddik, a righteous person. It is also known as the tziyun (“marker”).

There are numerous observances related to visiting the Rebbe's resting place, such as refraining from food (though not drink) before the visit, removing leather shoes before entering the mausoleum (as did Moses at the burning bush), and more. Most importantly, it is customary to enter the Rebbe’s resting place only after having done some form of spiritual preparation, whether giving some charity, studying Torah, or undertaking a positive resolution.

Resting Place of the Righteous
in Jewish Tradition

Visiting the resting place of the righteous is a long-held tradition in Judaism. The Talmud recounts how Caleb visited Hebron to pray at the Maarat Hamachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs), the resting place of the Biblical patriarchs and matriarchs. Resting places of Jewish mystics and sages in Israel and Europe are considered sacred spaces and have been visited by Jews and non-Jews for centuries.

Most such burial sites are located in Israel, such as the tomb of King David in Jerusalem, Moses Maimonides in Tiberius, and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron; or, in Europe, for example Rabbi Judah Lowy in Prague, Czech Republic, or the Baal Shem Tov in Ukraine. The Rebbe’s resting place is unique for its location in New York, and it is one of the most visited gravesites in America.

The practice of visiting the grave of the righteous is explained in the Zohar and the works of later Kabbalists and discussed in the Code of Jewish Law. "The righteous are greater in death than during their lifetime," explain the Sages. The Chassidic masters add that the righteous, when freed from their corporal limitations are able to be even more unconstrained in their concern for those of us down below.