Miriam Mizrahi

Miriam bat Mama HaKovesset (the launderer) was born in Kurdistan at the end of the 19th century. She and her husband were childless. When they moved to Yerushalayim, Miriam began working as a launderer in Mea Shearim. Among the families she worked for was the family of Rebbe Shloimke of Zvhil, the Zvhiler Rebbe, widely known as a miracle worker. Miriam was a very simple woman, whose hands were 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 HaNevia" — Miriam the Prophetess. Rebbe Shloimke's son, Rabbi Gedalya Moshe of Zvhil, whose grave statistically ranks third in pilgrimage visits 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 say the blessing over bread, instead of saying 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 it. But there was one distinctive thing — during the Great Holy Days, from the beginning of the month of Elul until Rosh Hashanah, she would fast for 40 days straight, eating only at night, usually receiving food from the people she worked for. She also fasted for three days before Purim. She also loved to travel to Meron to pray. Everyone who knew her acknowledged that she was a special woman, and they would ask her to pray for them, and she would agree, praying at 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 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 that you should have the zechut to bless other women with the birth of children." Miriam carried Rebbe Shloimke of Zvhil's blessing with her for many years, until she passed away in 1964. 29 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 she saw Miriam, who said: "I was the launderer in the house of the Admor, Rebbe Shloimel of Zvhil. I was childless and asked him for a blessing and salvation. The Rebbe said: 'I cannot help you, but I bless you that you should have the zechut to bless others with the birth of children.' The time has come for holy souls to descend into Olam HaZeh. I ask people to go to my grave and pray for the elevation of my neshama. I promise barren 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 Yerushalayim, they followed her directions and easily found her grave, even though it is one of thousands of others on Har HaMenuchot. That same year, 32 women who had been infertile for many years gave birth to children — after this, her grave became a place of ongoing pilgrimage with prayers for the birth of children. May the zechut of Miriam HaKovesset watch over our people! (24 тевета йорцайт мириям а ковесет пра)