24 Tevet · Yahrzeit

Miriam Mizrahi - Miriam Ha-Koveset (the Launderer)

Miriam bat Mama Mizrahi Ha-Koveset (the Launderer) was born in Kurdistan at the end of the 19th century. Yahrzeit - 24 Tevet Resting place - Har Ha-Menuchot She and her husband were childless. When they moved to Jerusalem, Miriam began working as a laundress in Mea Shearim. Among the families she served was the family of the Rebbe Shloimke of Zvhil, the Zvhiller Rebbe, widely known as a miracle worker. Miriam was a very simple woman, her hands swollen from constant washing. She was illiterate - she could neither read nor write. But she was very G-d-fearing and earned herself the nickname "Miriam Ha-Nevia" - Miriam the Prophetess. The Rebbe Shloimke's son, Rabbi Gedalya Moshe of Zvhil, whose grave reportedly ranks third in the number of pilgrims after the Kotel and Meron, knew Miriam from childhood and always spoke of her warmly: "I never thought she would become so famous - she was a very simple woman, who couldn't read or write. When she had to make the blessing over bread, instead of reciting the actual blessing, she would say 'thank you,' kiss the bread, and eat it. Even after finishing the bread, she would say 'thank you' and that was all. But there was one special thing - during the Great Holy Days, from the beginning of the month of Elul until Rosh Hashana, she would fast for 40 days straight, eating only at night, usually receiving food from the people she worked for. She would also fast for three days before Purim. She also loved traveling to Meron to pray. Everyone who knew her recognized that she was a special woman, and they would ask her to pray for them, and she would agree, and would pray at the holy sites on their behalf. My mother told me that in the morning, when Miriam woke up, she would raise her hands and say: "Shalom Shechina [Divine Presence], Shalom Avraham Avinu, Shalom Moshe Rabbeinu," and many more shaloms to many tzadikim. Then she would sit down to eat, say 'Thank you,' kiss the bread, and eat." One day, when her work was finished, she stood in the doorway of the Rebbe Shloimke's room and asked him to bless her to have a child. Deep in thought, after a few minutes he shook his head and said to her: "I cannot help you." She was stunned by this answer, but a few moments later the Rebbe added: "I bless you to have the zchut to bless other women to have children." Miriam carried the Rebbe Shloimke of Zvhil's blessing with her for many years, until she passed away in 1964. Twenty-nine years later, in 1993, the time came for the promise to be fulfilled. Segula - to pray for the birth of children and for children One of her neighbors described a dream in which Miriam appeared to her and said: "I was a laundress in the house of the Admor, Rebbe Shloimele of Zvhil. I was childless and asked him for a blessing and salvation. The Rebbe said: 'I cannot help you, but I bless you to have the zchut to bless others with children.' The time has come for holy souls to descend into Olam Ha-Zeh. I ask people to go to my grave and pray for the elevation of my neshama. I promise childless women that they will have children." And she gave an exact description of where her grave could be found. The woman who had the dream told one of her friends about it, and later, after discussing it at a women's shiur (class) in Jerusalem, they followed her instructions and easily found her grave, even though it is one of thousands of others on Har Ha-Menuchot. That same year, 32 women who had been childless for many years gave birth - after that, her grave became a place of ongoing pilgrimage with prayers for the birth of children. May the zchut of Miriam Ha-Koveset protect our people! Photos from the grave of Miriam Ha-Koveset (the Launderer) here: https://silatehilim.com/kivrei_tsadikim/24-тевета-йорцайт-мириям-мизрахи-мирия/ (https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/759-Miriam-Mizrachi)

Pilgrimage site: Grave: Miriam Mizrachi