New York is very good at keeping you moving. The Ohel offers a different kind of stop: a place to sit with a letter, a prayer or a thought that has been waiting for a quiet moment. You do not need to arrive knowing every custom. Start at the visitor center and ask someone to help you find your way.
The Ohel is the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, and his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn, in Queens. The visitor center is at 226-20 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Cambria Heights. Allow about 45–60 minutes for a first visit, plus travel; that is our planning suggestion, not a timed admission slot.
By CenterNYC Editorial · Sources checked October 13, 2026 · Read in Hebrew · קראו בעברית
A pause with a purpose
The word ohel means “tent,” referring here to the structure over the graves. The Rebbe was laid to rest beside the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe on June 12, 1994. The official account of the Ohel describes visitors from across Jewish life coming for prayer, reflection and inspiration.
That gives this visit a different rhythm from a museum or viewpoint. There is no collection of highlights to finish before moving on. Some people come with a very specific request; others need time to put their thoughts into words. Leave room for that, rather than treating it as the smallest gap between two other bookings.
Your first visit: begin at the center
The visitor center provides a writing area, prayer books and help with the visit. Its published service hours are 24 hours a day, six days a week. A walkway connects the center with the Ohel. For Shabbat or a Jewish holiday, arrange access and any stay directly with the center; our transport suggestions below are for weekday planning.
The official visiting customs are straightforward to prepare for:
- Dress respectfully. Men wear a kippah or hat; the center asks women to dress modestly and married women to cover their hair. Non-leather shoes are customary. The center provides head coverings and other items if needed.
- Write before entering. A letter can contain thanks, a request or what is on your mind. For Jewish names, the guidance uses the person’s name and mother’s name, preferably in Hebrew.
- Keep the visit quiet. There are separate entrances for men and women. The custom is to read the letter quietly, tear it and place it in the designated enclosed area. Prayer books are available.
“This is my first visit” is a perfectly useful sentence. Asking for guidance is better than spending the whole visit worrying that everyone else knows something you do not.
Getting to the Ohel from Manhattan or Brooklyn
Navigate to the visitor center on Google Maps, rather than selecting an arbitrary cemetery entrance. This is southeastern Queens, not a stop beside a Manhattan subway platform. Compare the complete outward and return journeys before deciding where it fits in your day.
Bus to Ohel publishes departures from Crown Heights, Manhattan and Borough Park. On October 13, its starting fares were $7.50 from Crown Heights and $10 from Manhattan or Borough Park. These are the operator’s advertised starting fares; choose your date and ride option to see what the booking includes.
| Departure | Regular schedule displayed by the operator |
|---|---|
| Crown Heights: 806 Eastern Parkway | Sunday–Thursday: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. |
| Midtown: 509 Fifth Avenue | Sunday–Friday: 9:30 a.m.; return from the Ohel at 11:45 a.m. |
| Upper West Side: 676 Amsterdam Avenue | Tuesday: 7 p.m.; return at 9 p.m. |
| Upper East Side: 1391 Second Avenue | Thursday: 7 p.m.; return at 9 p.m. |
| Borough Park: several pickup stops | Sunday: 10 a.m., return noon; Thursday: 9 p.m., return 11 p.m. |
The dated calendar takes priority over this regular schedule, particularly around holidays. For Borough Park, select your actual pickup stop. A bus seat is transport, not automatically a guided visit; groups can use the center’s guided-visit request separately.
For public transportation, use a current journey planner to the full address. Older directions and comments can preserve bus routes long after service changes. The sensible comparison is the whole journey—subway, bus and final walk—against the direct shuttle available for your date.
Children, mobility and bad weather
With children, explain the atmosphere before you arrive: this is a place for quiet prayer. A short letter prepared together can give a child something of their own to bring. Keep the visit as short as their patience requires; a calm half-hour can work better than an ambitious afternoon.
If you use a wheelchair or stroller, contact the center about the complete route from drop-off to the Ohel, seating and restrooms. The center has indoor space, but getting there and moving between areas also involves time outside, so bring suitable clothing for rain or cold.
Build the day around the journey
For a first visit, our suggested 45–60 minutes gives you space to prepare, write and pray. If you want additional study and reflection, allow around 90 minutes. Queues and transport sit outside both estimates.
A visit before a JFK flight needs a generous buffer for the journey back, luggage and the airline’s airport-arrival advice. “Near JFK” is a description of geography, not a promise of a ten-minute transfer. If the timing feels tight before you leave the hotel, it is probably not the day to squeeze this in.
For a separate family outing elsewhere in Queens, explore Queens Zoo or Flushing Meadows Corona Park. They require another journey; they are not nearby walk-on stops. Plan food through our kosher restaurant guides, using the restaurant’s actual address rather than assuming that every Queens business is close.
Photographs, privacy and a little preparation
Ask staff where photography is appropriate, and keep other people’s letters and private moments out of your pictures. An exterior photograph may be all the memento you need. Outside, leave driveways and sidewalks clear: this is also someone’s residential neighborhood.
For background before your visit, the official site links to videos of the Rebbe. This is an archival video resource, not a current walkthrough of the visitor facilities.
Quick answers
Do I need to know the customs before visiting?
No. Read the official guidance if you can, then ask for help at the visitor center. Suitable clothing and non-leather shoes make preparation easier.
Is there a direct bus from Manhattan?
Yes. Bus to Ohel lists Midtown departures and weekly Upper West Side and Upper East Side services. Use its calendar for your date and return journey.
Is the visitor center open 24/7?
The center describes its services as available 24 hours a day, six days a week. Arrange Shabbat and holiday visits directly instead of assuming every service operates as on a weekday.
Can I send a letter without visiting?
Yes. Use the official letter service. Keep personal requests out of public article comments.
This is a researched visitor guide, not a personal visit report. Official visitor-center and transport sources are linked beside the relevant information. Travel time depends on your starting point and departure time.