Ohel

The Ohel is a burial place within Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights, holding two side-by-side graves under a roofed structure. Brick walls and metal fencing mark the perimeter, and the site includes a visitor center with a library and prayer room.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson led the Chabad-Lubavitch movement for four decades until his death in 1994 and came to this location regularly. His wife was laid to rest here years earlier, and he joined her after his passing.

People come here to leave written prayers and personal wishes on small pieces of paper, following an old custom practiced by followers of the Chabad movement. These notes, called kvitlach, are torn before being placed near the resting place as a sign of humility.

The location stays open throughout the year and offers a visitor center with a library, synagogue, and refreshment area. People can arrive at any time, though appropriate clothing and respect for Jewish customs are expected.

More than 1100 prayer requests arrive daily by fax and email, which staff members print and bring to the resting place. This practice allows people around the world to send their wishes even if they cannot visit in person.