A Story for Shabbat: When the Shechinah Appeared at the Western Wal

News of Rabbi Avraham HaLevi Beruchim’s serious illness reached the ears of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi, known as the holy Arizal, whose yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) is on the 5th of Av. But the Arizal didn’t need to be told. With his holy vision, he could see far beyond what human eyes perceive.

Rabbi Avraham was one of the Arizal’s closest students, living with him in the mystical city of Tzfat (Safed) over 400 years ago. Every night, Rabbi Avraham would mourn the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). He would sit on the floor, weeping into ashes, grieving as if he had personally experienced the loss.

One day, the Arizal approached him with a remarkable message. He revealed that Rabbi Avraham was a gilgul (reincarnation) of the prophet Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah), who had witnessed the Temple’s destruction and prophesied about it. In the Heavenly realm, they held great admiration for Rabbi Avraham’s sincere mourning, and so he was granted a rare merit: every night, the soul of the prophet Yirmiyahu would join him in his tears.

But now, Rabbi Avraham had fallen ill, and the Arizal came to visit him with solemn news. “Your time in this world is coming to an end,” he said. “But there is still one hope. If you can travel to Jerusalem, go to the Western Wall, and cry over the exile of the Shechinah (Divine Presence), if your tears pierce the heavens and you merit to see a revelation of the Shechinah, then your life will be extended.”

Rabbi Avraham took the message to heart. From his sickbed, he began making arrangements for the journey. Before departing, he fasted and prayed for three days, asking Hashem to help him fulfill this mission with sincerity.

In those days, traveling from Tzfat to Jerusalem by donkey was a long and difficult trek. But nothing could stand in the way of Rabbi Avraham’s burning desire. Though frail and in pain, he rode through valleys and hills until he finally reached the holy city.

He didn’t stop to rest. He didn’t seek food or shelter. He went straight to the Kotel. When he saw the remaining wall of our Temple, destroyed and desolate, he fell to the ground. He tore his clothes, covered himself in dust, and poured out his heart in tears over the pain of the Shechinah in exile.

For hours, he wept with the depth of his soul. His entire life had been devoted to this mission. Now, here he was, face to face with the ruins of Hashem’s home.

Suddenly, he sensed a presence. He looked up and saw a figure clothed entirely in black. Its face was hidden, but it stood tall, stretching from the earth to the heavens. It was not of this world. Rabbi Avraham immediately knew: the Shechinah had appeared before him.

The sight overwhelmed him. His heart ached, his breath shortened, and his head drooped with sorrow. “Is this Naomi? Is this the Shechinah once radiant and majestic now appearing in such mourning?” He could not bear the pain. Crying out, “Zion, once as precious as gold, woe is me that I see you like this!” he fainted on the ground.

While unconscious, he had a dream. In it, the Shechinah placed Her hands gently on his head and whispered, “Be comforted, Avraham. Be comforted, my son. There is hope for your future. Your children will return to their borders.”

He awoke with peace in his heart and joy on his face. He returned to Tzfat, where the Arizal greeted him warmly. “You have been granted 22 more years of life,” he told him.