An outline of the life of the chassid Rabbi Naftali HaLevi Chanael’s zt"l • His childhood and the days of his life • His work on behalf of all of Klal Yisrael • His journey to Uman, to the holy resting place of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov • His tragic passing and the location of his grave

A holy communal activist

In the alleyways of “Upper Tzfas,” one of its loftiest souls could be seen— the righteous activist Rabbi Naftali HaLevi Chanael’s. He stood at the front lines for the sake of the purity of holiness, concerned that the chareidi institutions would become subordinate to Zionist institutions, and Rabbi Naftali stood watch over this with unwavering resolve. And yet, at that very same time, he was also occupied with saving “Achad Ha’am,” one of the leaders of the Zionist establishment, from death after he was seized by the cruel governor, Jamal Pasha. That was Rabbi Naftali: love of Hashem, of His people, and of His Land—these were the forces that moved him. As Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz writes about him (Yemei Shmuel, ch. 42): “In short, such a devoted servant of Israel is hard to find!”

His lineage and childhood

Rabbi Naftali was born in the year 5617 (1857) in the city of Bohopoli (today: Pervomaisk) in Ukraine, to his father, the chassid Rabbi Shaul Shalom HaLevi Doktorovitz of Bohopoli, and to his mother, the righteous and renowned Rebbetzin Mrs. Chana, who traced her lineage to the holy Baal Shem Tov and to Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. Rabbi Naftali would always sign his name: “Naftali Chanael’s, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.”

When Rabbi Naftali was still very young—about ten years old—he performed an act of self-sacrifice in his hometown: he went and smashed the Christian cross and idol. The authorities found out, and an order was issued to seize him and put him on trial for this deed. Rabbi Naftali had to hide from the government agents who were searching for him, and because of this, his parents’ resolve strengthened to flee Russia. By open miracles, the family succeeded in leaving Russia, and in the year 5628 (1868)—when Rabbi Naftali was eleven—the family made Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Tzfas. The residents of Tzfas recognized their greatness; Rabbi Shaul Shalom and his wife, Rebbetzin Chana, were among the city’s respected and distinguished figures.

The days of his life and his deeds

“One of the unique men of Tzfas—an exalted chassid, holy and pure, a man of good deeds, beloved of Hashem and beloved of all Israel, a fruit of the Holy of Holies”—this is how his friend and acquaintance Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz (father of Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz) wrote about him. It wasn’t only he who held him in great honor; all the people of Tzfas who knew him valued him and honored him tremendously. The townspeople would bring him notes with names (kvitlach) for prayer on behalf of those in need of salvation, and Rabbi Naftali would bring about salvations for them through his prayers. Rabbi Naftali was beloved not only among the Jews of the Old Yishuv; even Jews who were distant from Torah and mitzvos loved him and respected him. As Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz writes about him: “Wherever he came—in the lands of Russia, Poland, and Austria—they would stir with excitement at his name and his good remembrance.”

Rabbi Naftali was a holy man, elevated above the masses—an oved Hashem and a Torah scholar. The words of Rebbe Nachman, of blessed holiness, to increase the saying of Tehillim were a lamp to his feet, and every day he would recite the entire Book of Tehillim, in addition to other fixed portions from the holy sefarim. Rabbi Naftali was also an expert mohel, and thousands of children were circumcised by his hand. Because he was a clean and orderly person, he was accepted as the mohel of the Hadassah hospital in Tzfas. In addition, Rabbi Naftali taught young children and educated them in Torah and yiras Shamayim.

He stood before kings

In his devotion to his people, Rabbi Naftali was not intimidated even by the region’s cruel governor, Jamal Pasha, and he dealt with him for the benefit of the Jewish people. Jamal Pasha would take no one into account and would kill as he saw fit, without mercy. The mere mention of his name would cause trembling. But Rabbi Naftali was different from other men: he found favor in the governor’s eyes, and the governor honored and esteemed him greatly. His dignified bearing and impressive appearance also contributed to this.

Rabbi Naftali saved many Jewish lives from Jamal Pasha’s wrath—even people who had already been sentenced to death. Rabbi Naftali placed his own life in danger, argued in their favor, and rescued them. Even Jews who did not observe Torah and mitzvos, and even those among the leaders of the Zionist establishment, he cared for and worked to save from the hands of the cruel governor.

In the shadow of the “Na Nach”

Rabbi Naftali Chanael’s was close to the path of Rabbeinu z”l. Although we do not know much about him, Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz relates that Rabbi Naftali traveled specifically and intentionally to Uman, to the holy tziyun, in order to fulfill the directive of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov that people should come to his grave. This must be understood in context: travel in those days was filled with upheaval and hardship. First one had to ride on a donkey or mule to the city of Beirut in Lebanon, climbing mountains and descending hills. There were even people who lost their lives during this ride. From there one had to sail by ship through stormy seas to Turkish Istanbul or Romanian Galați, and from there continue the exhausting journey until reaching the Holy of Holies in the city of Uman. Rabbi Naftali did all of this, and in the end merited to prostrate himself at the holy tziyun.

It should be noted that at that time, it was not considered a great honor to be a Breslov chassid—to put it mildly… Yet Rabbi Naftali overcame this obstacle as well, being respected in many circles, even among those who were not on “very friendly” terms with Breslov Chassidus and Breslov chassidim.

Rabbi Yisrael Kardoner sent a letter with Rabbi Naftali to Rabbi Nosson Trubitzer and to his son Rabbi Sender Chaim, among the important members of Anash in Tzfas. In his letter, Rabbi Yisrael Kardoner writes to Rabbi Nosson Trubitzer and his son: “Surely my letter has reached you, which I sent via the rabbinic mohel, Rabbi Naftali Chanaelis, n”y”… We see that he was in close contact with Anash.

His lips still speak

Rabbi Naftali once said, while eulogizing a great man: “A korban requires libations. When they bring the korban of a great person for the atonement of the generation, one must bring libations—pour out tears, let them flow like a river over the brokenness of the daughter of my people, and pour out one’s heart and soul before Hashem in complete teshuvah.”

His tragic passing

In the year 5680 (1920), as the month of Nissan approached, several crates of clothing were sent from America for the poor of Tzfas in honor of Pesach. Rabbi Naftali took upon himself the task of bringing them to the city of Tzfas. On this trip Rabbi Naftali also traveled to Jerusalem on a mission involving tzedakah, and he took with him the crates of clothing for the poor of Tzfas.

On 11 Nissan, four days before Pesach, Rabbi Naftali returned by train in the direction of Tzfas. In those days, the Arabs (y”msh) planned a mass-casualty attack, and these murderers sabotaged the railway tracks on a mountainside near Lod, which was a central hub in the railway system of Eretz Yisrael. When the train reached the spot, it overturned, and several cars rolled down the mountain with their passengers—among them Rabbi Naftali, whose soul ascended there to the hidden treasuries on high.

When word spread of his sudden and shocking passing, all the Jews in Eretz Yisrael wept and mourned Rabbi Naftali, and especially in his city of Tzfas there was great mourning for him. As Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz describes: “Truly, the charm and beauty of the city were taken away. Its splendor departed, its radiance departed, its majesty departed. It was as though Shabbos and Yom Tov ceased for us. For how much vitality we had just from looking at his holy form. It is impossible to estimate or elaborate on the magnitude of the loss we suffered. Our hearts truly melted and became like water. Even babies in their cradles cried over this”…

Rabbi Naftali lived on this earth for sixty-three years, and he occupied himself with the three pillars upon which the world stands—Torah, avodah, and acts of kindness—each according to his level. Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz summarizes his praise as follows: “In short, it is impossible to speak, to tell, or to describe the greatness of this tzaddik—his beauty, his goodness, and the favor he found in everyone’s eyes.”

The location of his tziyun and directions

When the terrible disaster was heard, the people of the city of Jaffa went out and brought his body to their city, where they buried him with great honor. His grave is in the “new” cemetery of the city of Jaffa, in the first row adjacent to the eastern fence. In this “eastern” row, the community’s dignitaries of that era were buried. After his passing, they buried next to him the first mayor of Tel Aviv, Shimon Rokach. Today this cemetery is located in the center of the city of Tel Aviv, which was then in its earliest days.

The cemetery is on Trumpeldor Street, adjacent to Allenby Street, and is called the “Trumpeldor Cemetery.” At the entrance to the cemetery—immediately after the mass grave on the right—turn right until the end of the cemetery. In the row adjacent to the wall, in the middle of the wall, there is the grave of Rabbi Naftali. Many have been helped through prayer at his grave, and many stories of salvation are told by those who prostrate themselves at his tziyun.

[caption id="attachment_50441" align="alignnone" width="300"] The tziyun of Rabbi Naftali Chanael’s, Trumpeldor Cemetery, Tel Aviv[/caption]