5 Tishrei · Yahrzeit
Naftali ben Yaakov Avinu - 12 Tribes
Naftali ben Yaakov Avinu
Born: Aram Naharaim, 1562 BCE
Died: Egypt, 1429 BCE
Yahrzeit - 5 Tishrei
Resting place - Tel Kodesh
Naftali was the son of the Patriarch Yaakov and Bilhah. He is one of the founders of the 12 Tribes.
Naftali was born on 5 Tishrei and died on that very same day, 5 Tishrei, at the age of 133. (Yalkut Shimoni, Shemot 162)
He was swift as a deer. (Sotah 13a)
He greatly honored his father. His father would send him wherever he wished, and he would swiftly carry out his mission, so that [his father] was pleased with him. [Moreover], Naftali's speech was pleasant [to his father], and therefore his father blessed him [as he did in Bereishit 49:2]. (Bamidbar Rabbah 14:11)
He would go as a messenger wherever the tribes wished, and would carry out their missions immediately. (Midrash HaGadol, Bereishit 49:21)
When the brothers wanted to kill Yosef, Naftali went and told Yehuda, who came and saved him. (Midrash Aggadah, Bereishit 49:21)
When Yehuda grew angry [during the encounter with Yosef described in the portion of Vayigash], he said to Naftali, "Go and see how many marketplaces there are in Egypt." Naftali leaped forward, returned, and told him, "Twelve"… (Bereishit Rabbah 93:8).
He was a bearer of good news. He reported that Yosef was still alive (Genesis 45:26); and he hurried to Egypt and brought back the deed of ownership of the Cave of Machpelah, to prove that Esav had no share in it. (Targum Yonatan, Bereishit 49:21)
On the Choshen Mishpat (the breastplate of the High Priest) - Naftali's stone was the Shvo (turquoise). According to the translation of Rabbeinu Bachya, the stone is called "turkiza," which is closest to turquoise. Since the name Naftali means "connection," the Shvo became the "connecting link" between the rider and the horse.
Naftali was buried in Kedesh Naftali (Eretz Yisrael), which was given to his sons as an inheritance (Sefer HaYashar, end of Yehoshua).
Yaakov Avinu's blessing to Naftali:
"Naftali is a hind let loose; he gives goodly words."
Moshe Rabbeinu's blessing to Naftali:
"And of Naftali he said: Naftali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the L-rd; possess the sea and the south."
May the merit of the tzadik protect our people!
(From the website https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/82-Naphtali-ben-Yaacov-Avinu)
Pilgrimage site:
Grave: Yaakov Avinu