Grave

Nachman Chatufa

Yanuka

The grave of the "Nevuat HaYeled" - Nachman Chatufa

He was born on 1 Tishrei - the day the first man was created - in the year 4632, in Shfaram.

His resting place is in the Upper Galilee, near Bar'am, moshav Dovev.

Rabbi Avraham ben Eliezer HaLevi interpreted and commented on the prophecy of the child - Nachman Chatufa - spoken 1147 years ago.

His father, Rabbi Pinchas, was a Mekubal and knew the hidden Name of Ha-Shem (Shem HaMeforash), but never used it because of the danger involved.

He helped and blessed many childless couples, yet he and his own wife had no children. When his wife begged him to pray for a child, he ignored her requests.

One day, as Rabbi Pinchas was dozing, she again asked him to pray for a child. As always, he ignored her request, but when she fainted, his heart softened. For the first time, he spoke to her and called her "my dove." She begged him to pray for a child, but he told her it would be better for them not to have one, because the child would bring much sorrow and be buried at a young age. His wife insisted that she wanted a child. Her husband gave in and prayed. In the seventh month of her pregnancy, she gave birth to a son.

As soon as he was born, he stood on his feet and bowed to his mother, and began to reveal hidden secrets about the structure of the Merkava. Rabbi Pinchas passed his hand over the child's lips, and the child became mute.

They named him Nachman. His wife again begged her husband to pray that G-d restore their son's power of speech. She had a strong desire to hear him. Her husband warned her that if he spoke, he would die immediately afterward. The mother said she would rather have a son who could speak for even a few minutes than a mute one.

The Rabbi called Nachman, gently stroked his face, kissed him, and made him swear not to reveal the secrets of Heaven. He blessed the child, and Nachman's power of speech returned. He spoke of 5 prophecies in Aramaic, about the Geula.

These 5 prophecies are connected to the letters of Mantzepach (the secret of the 5 final letters of the Hebrew alphabet).

He spoke words of prophecy encompassing the entire history of our world, up until the coming of Mashiach. Having finished uttering the prophecy, at the age of 12, he died on that very spot.

Hence his nickname Chatuf (katuf) - "cut short" (seized by death).

His prophecy is recorded in the book "Nevuat HaYeled" (The Prophecy of the Child).

Segula

This is a favorite place for prayer among the women's group "Kivrei Tzadikim" in Israel. It is a place of tremendous power - one doesn't want to leave, whether it's 3 in the morning or the middle of the day. Nearby is the grave of Ovadiah HaNavi, but it is this place that draws you in.

His grave is considered a good place to pray for having children (he himself was born to a couple who had long been childless) and for children's recovery from illness.

With gratitude to Dena Bluster for the suggestion to visit the grave of Yanuka ben Pinchas - Nachman Chatufa.