24 Tevet · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz
Rabbi Naftali ben Yitzchak ve-Idel Margolioth HaKohen Katz — a direct descendant of the Maharal of Prague, and a follower of the greatest Polish kabbalists – Rabbi Netanel Nata Shapiro, the Shelah HaKadosh, and Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol.
Yahrzeit - 24 Tevet
Resting place - Istanbul, Ortakoy Jewish Cemetery Mecidiye, 34347 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Rabbi Naftali Katz is also the author of the important "Tikkun HaNefesh" - 11 psalms in a special order, revived today by Gaon Rabbi Yosef Yeshayahu Pinto.
In 1663, Rabbi Naftali fell into the hands of Tatars, who held him in captivity as a slave for several years. Having escaped by applying practical Kabbalah, he returned to Ostropol and was chosen as rabbi of the community, succeeding his father in that position. Later he moved to Poznan, where he devoted himself to Kabbalah and assembled a large library of kabbalistic literature.
On 24 Tevet 1711, in the seventh year of his stay in Frankfurt, a fire broke out in his house: the flames spread quickly, and more than five hundred houses in the Jewish quarter burned down. The city authorities accused Rabbi Naftali of having stopped the spread of the fire through unusual sorcerous powers by using Kabbalah — he was arrested, but managed to escape from prison.
Rabbi Naftali then went to Prague, where many members of his family lived. There another misfortune occurred, one that darkened his life even more than the loss of his wealth and position.
A follower of Shabbtai Tzvi — Nehemiah Chiyun — having deceitfully obtained letters of recommendation from great rabbis, traveled throughout Europe. Arriving in Prague and presenting himself as an emissary from the Land of Israel, he won the trust of Rabbi Naftali Katz through his duplicity.
As a proponent of practical Kabbalah, Rabbi Naftali, suspecting nothing wrong, approved his mystical work "Mehemnuta DeKula," not knowing that Chiyun had shown him only the outer, surface layer of the work.
Rabbi Naftali soon discovered his mistake and tried to correct it, but all his efforts were unsuccessful. In 1713, while Rabbi Naftali was in Breslau, he supported the renowned Talmudist Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi (the "Chacham Tzvi") against Chiyun.
When Rabbi Naftali decided to make aliyah to the Holy Land, his route passed through Constantinople. There, on 24 Tevet – the very same date, many years after the tragic fire – his soul ascended to the Heavenly Yeshiva.
Rabbi Naftali Katz left behind these renowned works:
The treatise "Semichat Chachamim" (Ordination of the Sages), which brought him fame and which he asked to be buried with him;
The treatise "Pi Yesharim" (Mouth of the Upright), profound commentary on just one — the very first — word of the Torah: "Bereishit" (In the beginning). "Sefer Beit Rachel" (Book of the House of Rachel), quoted in his will.
His "Tikkun HaNefesh" — a selection of 11 psalms, very popular in Israel today.
Rabbi Naftali Katz is buried in Istanbul, in the Jewish cemetery in Beşiktaş.
A group of women from "Sila Tehilim," during a trip to the graves of tzadikim in Izmir and Istanbul, was deeply moved by the special atmosphere at his resting place. The tzadik did not let go of us for a long time as we read his "Tikkun HaNefesh."
Tikkun HaNefesh
https://silatehilim.com/тикун-а-нефеш-текст-молитвы-рабби-на/
10 Psalms According to the 10 Sefirot by Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz
https://silatehilim.com/10-теилим-в-соответствии-с-10-сфирот-по-раб/
May the merit of the tzadik protect our people!
(https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/607-Rabbi-Naphtali-Cohen)
Pilgrimage site:
Grave: Naftali HaKohen Katz