A Shabbat Story: A Visit to a Holy Grave and a Mysterious Swarm of Bees

“I want us to go visit Rabbi Mordechai Sharabi’s grave today,” said the wife of A., seemingly out of nowhere. Rabbi Sharabi was the head of the Nahar Shalom Yeshiva in Jerusalem, a deeply respected kabbalist whose yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) is the 20th of Cheshvan. Her request wasn’t tied to a Jewish holiday, a yahrzeit, or even Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the Hebrew month), so her husband was surprised.

“Why today?” he asked, puzzled. “It’s not Shabbat or Rosh Chodesh. Why go to the grave of a man of G-d now?”

Still, she felt a strong pull to go. Within a few minutes, the couple and their two children were on their way from their home to Jerusalem, heading toward Har HaMenuchot, where Rabbi Sharabi is buried.

When they arrived, they parked close to the cemetery entrance, right above the tzaddik’s (righteous man’s) grave. The parents got out, leaving the children in the car, and walked toward the gravesite.

As they neared the kever (grave), a loud and terrifying buzz filled the air. Out of nowhere, a huge swarm of bees surrounded them. The couple instinctively covered their ears and ran back to the car in panic.

As they ran, A. thought, Thank G-d we parked close by! His wife added, Thank G-d the kids are safe inside!

They jumped into the car, breathless, and were met with wide-eyed questions from their confused children.

“Mommy, Daddy what happened? Is someone chasing you?”

“Didn’t you see all the bees near the grave?” they asked.

But the children stared blankly. “What bees? There’s nothing there…”

Looking out the window, the parents also saw nothing. No bees. No insects. Nothing unusual.

Still shaken, they sat in silence for a few moments, then the wife said again, “I really want to go to the holy site.” They slowly stepped out, glancing cautiously around. Everything looked calm.

But again, as they drew closer to the grave, a deafening swarm appeared from nowhere. Just like before, they were forced to flee back to the car, hands over ears, hearts pounding.

This time, the children watched the whole thing and said, once again, “There are no bees chasing you!”

Now the parents realized that this was not a natural event. Something spiritual was happening here, a message from above. They sat quietly in the car, trying to understand why Hashem was sending them this strange sign.

Suddenly, the wife gasped. “Oh no. How could I forget?”

She turned to her husband and whispered so the children wouldn’t hear that she was in a physical state that, according to halacha (Jewish law), made it inappropriate for her to enter a cemetery or approach a holy site.

Could that be the reason for the bees?

To find out, A. decided to go back on his own. He approached the grave of Rabbi Mordechai Sharabi, praying from the depths of his heart. He looked around nervously… but this time, not a single bee appeared. All was calm.

The message was clear.

It is taught in Chassidic tradition that righteous people, tzaddikim, have spiritual power even after they pass from this world. Just as they chose who to receive and bless in their lifetime, so too, from their place in the World of Truth, they continue to guard their resting places and decide who may come close.

This powerful story serves as a gentle reminder that the presence of tzaddikim still surrounds us and that our connection to holiness is always guided from above.