There is a famous Midrash (story from the Talmud) that goes as follows:
When the Beis HaMikdash (the Holy Temple) was destroyed, Moses, the Matriarchs, and the Patriarchs stormed the heavens and pleaded with G-d to bring the Jews back to the Land of Israel. But the Jews had sinned and G-d had sealed His judgment against them. Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), Yaakov (Jacob), and Moshe (Moses) pleaded with G-d. They spoke of the great things they had done in their lives and begged that their merits could be used to help their children, the Jewish nation, to no avail.
But then Rachel spoke. She asked that the Jewish nation be spared in her merit. The love she had for her sister Leah and refusal to shame her at great personal sacrifice was deemed righteous enough by the Almighty who then annulled His decree. To her, G-d said, “Stop crying, because your prayers have been heard.” And they continue to be heard until this day.
Many of us know the story of how, on her wedding day, Rachel’s father switched her with Leah, Rachel’s older sister, to deceit Yaakov into marrying the wrong girl.
How could Yaakov have been tricked?
The sages answer that Rachel and Yaakov had developed signs to use so that they would be able to communicate with one another. They knew that they were soul mates, but Rachel’s father had a notorious reputation for being dishonest so they wanted to be sure their betrothal would follow through. However, when the time came, Leah was switched so that she would marry Yaakov instead. Rachel knew that when Yaakov would await the signs he and Rachel had prepared, Leah would not be able to deliver them. Rachel couldn’t bear to see her sister go through such shame. She taught Leah the signs and gave up her honor and happiness for her sister. It was this act of pure love and giving that gave the Jewish people the merit to continue to thrive to this day.
This powerful prayer that Rachel used to defend her people is one of many reasons Jews refer to her as Rachel Imeinu (our mother, Rachel), and others call her Mama Rachel. Just as we witness superhuman feats from mothers for their children, Rachel Imeinu is the one who loves us unconditionally, cares for us, cries for us, and brings our supplications straight to G-d.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Jews and non-Jews gather to visit her grave. They cry out to Rachel to once again advocate for them in heaven, be it for finding a spouse, having children, health, financial security, happiness, or beyond.
It is because of Rachel Imenu that we pray for people in her honor. The power of her prayers and her status as the mother of all Jews is something we should all recognize and look up to. It is a mother’s cry for her child that arouses mercy from the Almighty.