Reference for Jeremiah 31:14

Like other scholars Rabbi Shmuel also spoke of the destruction of the Temple in his lectures. Many such lectures are included in the introduction to “Midrash Eicha Rabathi” and these describe how Jeremiah went to the graves of the Patriarchs and begged them to intercede with God. It was characteristic of the times that the belief was commonly held that Rachel rose from her grave and wept at the fate of her children. Her weeping aroused pity in heaven and she was assured that they would soon be redeemed from the land of the enemy. (Jeremiah, 31:14.) Such descriptions delivered by good orators profoundly impressed the people.