Hundreds of young Israeli women hoping to find themselves a husband have been placing their underwear on the tomb of a venerated rabbi in the hopes that their marriage prayers will be answered.
About 400 pairs of knickers and bras have been collected from the grilles of the tomb’s window or on the branches of nearby trees by the authorities charged with preserving the final resting place of Rabbi Yenothan Ben Uziel in the Amuka region of northern Israel, the Maariv daily reported on Sunday.
According to Jewish tradition, anyone who is unmarried will meet their soul mate and marry within a year if they visit his tomb.
However, Rabbi Israel Deri, in charge of protecting holy sites in the north, told the paper that the women’s prayers will go unanswered.
“Having consulted with the chief rabbis, I can say with certainty that not only are these women guilty of a profanity, but they will also never gain benediction,” he said. — AFP