Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu was one of the first Tannaim (sages of the Mishnah era) and teacher of Rabbi Akiva for twenty-two years [1]. He was also called “Nachum Hamadi” [1B].
The tomb of Tana Nachum Ish Gamzu and the inscription on the tombstone
Rabbi Nachum was the ultimate symbol of faith and trust in God, and received this name because of the phrase he always said: “Gam zu letová” (“This too is for the good”).
The Sages stated that he had the title of “Kodesh HaKodashim” (“Holy of Holies”) [2], and he was one of the few Tannaim about whom it was said [3] that he was “melumad benissim” — or, that is, accustomed to miracles, for whom the miraculous was something frequent. Therefore, his tomb possesses a special spiritual power, being a very propitious place for prayers to be accepted before God so that He grants salvation above the laws of nature, in merit of the Tzaddik; for what the Tzaddik accomplished in life (in this case, miracles) continues to exert influence on others who need the same kind of help [4].
The tomb is located in the new part of the city of Tsfat (Safed), on the street that today bears his name, “Nachum Ish Gamzu” (a side street off Henrietta Szold Street).
The exact location of the tomb was revealed by the Arizal [5], contradicting the previous assumption regarding the location. The Arizal also observed that the entire area around this tomb is a sacred place [6].
In recent years, a beautiful facility has been built over the tomb, in the characteristic style of Tsfat, with a section for women and full access for people with disabilities, open twenty-four hours a day.
Hilulah Day (anniversary of the Tzadik’s death): 15th of Av.
The Colel “Ohel Shelomô” (branch of “Bircat Avraham”), next to the tomb of Tana Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu
In the month of Elul of the year 5785, a branch of the Colel “Bircat Avraham” of Jerusalem was inaugurated in the city of Tsfat, with Divine help. The name of this branch is “Colel Ohel Shelomô”, in memory of the unforgettable Mr. Shelomo Adolfo Ben Salcha ZL.
Following a large-scale registration, the most outstanding students were chosen—all recognized scholars from the holy city of Tsfat—and registration remains open for the acceptance of new scholars.
The Rosh Colel at this branch is Gaon Rabbi Michael Bahbout Shelita, brother of the head of the institutions, Rabbi Elie.
The Colel’s subject of study is “Dayanut” (rabbinic jurisprudence), with a particularly high level of depth.
Initially, this Colel operated in the synagogue where the tomb of Tana Rabbi Yosef Banaah is located (also in Tsfat), but in the month of Mar-Cheshvan of the year 5786, this branch moved to the synagogue next to the tomb of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu, called “Bet HaKnesset Nachum Ish Gamzu”—which also serves as a protected shelter (Miklat).
The scholars, every day at the end of the study, go to the tomb of the holy Tana Rabbi
Nachum Ish Gamzu and pray for the prosperity of all the donors of the Bircat
Avraham branches, mentioning the names of each donor daily.
Class at Kolel Ohel Shelomo (Bircat Avraham Institutions – Safed Branch)
The prayer for prosperity follows the text composed by the great Kabbalist Rabbi Eliyahu
HaCohen of Izmir ZTL, with additions taken from the prayer for success composed by Rabenu Yossef Chaim ZTL, the author of the Ben Ish Chai.
To submit names for prayer at the tomb of the righteous Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu
It is worth noting that the Tana Rabbi Nachum Ish Gam Zu is a symbol of the importance of tzedakah (charity), as reported in the Talmud [7].
The Gaon Rabbi Michael Bahbout Shelita,at the tomb of Nachum Yish Gamzu, praying for the success of the donors of the Bircat Avraham institutes
Thus, whoever donates tzedakah for the upkeep of the Colel located above his tomb, deserves that the soul of the tzadik deeply recognizes the good and intercedes favorably for him before the Heavenly Throne. This is because, the greater the affinity of the person with the type of acts that the tzadik performed in life, the greater the merit of the prayer at his tomb [8].
Segulot (action of spiritual strength) and prayers connected to the holy Tana Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu
Below are some special segulot and prayers to obtain salvation and mercy, related to the figure of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu — and, naturally, when performed at his tomb, the spiritual power is even more intense, with the help of God.
Saying “Gam zu letová” has the power to transform reality
The great masters of Hasidism [9], based on the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, explained that saying the phrase “Gam zu letová” (“This too is for the good”), with
true reflection and faith, possesses a profound spiritual power: When a person truly
internalizes that everything that seems bad will not only become good, but is already good at this very moment, even if they do not yet understand how, then this statement has the power to transform Divine Rigor into Divine Mercy.
Thus, the good hidden within what seemed to be an adversity is openly revealed [10].
And some masters emphasized [11] that it is not enough to just think “Gam zu letová”, but it is necessary to pronounce the words aloud — because by expressing them verbally, Rigor is “sweetened” and Divine mercy is manifested.
The Segulah of Relating the Miracle of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu
It is transmitted, in the name of the elder of the Kabbalists, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri ZTL, that a very powerful Segulah (action of spiritual force) for any kind of salvation is to recount and divulge the miracle that occurred with Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu, narrated in the Talmud in the tractates of Taanit [12] and Sanhedrin [13].
Below is the complete account according to the text of the Talmud:
Why was he called “Nachum Ish Gamzu”?
Because, in every situation that happened to him, he would say: “Gam zu letová” — “This too is for the good.”
Once, the Jews wanted to send a gift to the Roman emperor (to prevent an evil decree he was planning).
They asked: “Who will represent us?”
03/11/2025, 12:55 Tomb of the Tana Hakadosh Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu – Meshiv Cahalachá
https://meshiv.co.il/pt/nachum-yish-gamzu/ 2/4
They replied: “Let Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu go, for he is accustomed to miracles.”
They placed in his hands an ark full of precious stones and pearls.
During the journey, he stayed overnight at an inn. At night, the inhabitants stole the jewels and filled the ark with earth.
When morning came and he saw what had happened, he said: “Gam zu letová.”
Upon arriving before the emperor, they opened the ark—and saw that it was full of earth!
The emperor became furious and wanted to kill all the Jews, saying: “The Jews are mocking me!”
Nachum answered again: “Gam zu letová”.
Then Eliyahu HaNavi (the prophet Elijah) appeared in the guise of one of the emperor’s advisors, and said:
“Perhaps this land is the land of the patriarch Abraham—for when he threw handfuls of earth, they became swords; and when he threw straw, they became arrows, as it is written: ‘He gave dust as his sword and straw as his bow’ (Isaiah 41:2).”
At that time there was a province that the emperor could not conquer.
They tried using that land—and they won the war!
In gratitude, the emperor ordered Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu to be taken to the royal treasury and his chest filled again with precious stones and pearls, sending him back with great honor.
Upon returning to the inn, the inhabitants asked:
“What did you take that the emperor treated you with such honor?”
He replied, “What I took from here, I took there.”
They, thinking that the common soil of their inn was the miraculous soil, destroyed the house to collect the dust and sent it to the emperor.
But when they tested it, they found no power whatsoever—and the inhabitants were condemned to death.
The prayer composed by Rabbi Salman Mutzafi
The following is a short prayer composed by the Kabbalist Rabbi Salman Mutzafi, to be recited at the tomb of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu, after studying his teachings (some of which will be presented later):
“May it be Your will, O Eternal One, that the merit of the holy Tana Nachum Ish Gamzu protect us and all the people of Israel.And just as he performed miracles and wonders in his life, may the Holy One, blessed be He, also perform miracles and wonders for us now, in our days, through his merit. For the righteous are even greater in their death than in their life. May He hasten our complete and eternal redemption, quickly in our days, Amen.”
Additional Teachings of the Tana Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu
Tractate Taanit 21A:
It was said of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu that he was blind in both eyes, without both hands and without both legs, and his whole body was covered in sores.
He lay in a ruined house, and the legs of his bed were supported by basins of water, so that ants would not climb on him.
Once, the house threatened to collapse.
His disciples wanted to remove the bed first and then the utensils.
He said to them, “My sons, first remove the utensils and then my bed—
for I am certain that as long as I am here, the house will not fall.”
They did so—and as soon as they removed the bed, the house collapsed.
Then they asked him,
“Rabbi, since you are a completely righteous man, why has all this happened to you?”
He replied:
“My children, I brought this upon myself.
Once, I was walking to my father-in-law’s house, leading three donkeys with me: one
loaded with food, another with drink, and the third with delicacies.
A poor man approached and asked me for help, saying: ‘Rabbi, sustain me!’
I replied: ‘Wait until I unload the donkey.’
But, before I did, his soul departed.
I fell upon his body and declared:
‘May my eyes, which had no compassion for yours, become blind;
may my hands, which did not help you, be cut off;
may my legs, which did not run to your aid, be amputated.’
And I did not feel at peace until I said:
‘May my whole body be covered with wounds.’ His disciples said:
‘Woe to us for seeing him like this!’
He replied:
‘Woe to me if they did not see me like this!’”
Treatise of Chaguigá 12A:
Rabbi Yishmael asked Rabbi Akiva, as they walked together on the road:
“You, who served Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu for twenty-two years,
and who heard him interpret all the occurrences of the word ‘et’ in the Torah—
what did he teach about the words: ‘et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz’ (‘the heavens and the earth’)?”
Rabbi Akiva replied:
“If the Torah had said only ‘shamayim va’aretz’, I would have thought that ‘Shamayim’ and
‘Aretz’ are names of the Holy One, blessed be He.
But, as it is written ‘et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz’, it is understood that ‘shamayim’ actually means the heavens, and ‘aretz’ actually means the earth.
And the purpose of the word ‘et’ here is to teach the precedence of the heavens over the
earth.”
Talmud Yerushalmi, Megillah 1:11
And why was Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi called “Rabenu Hakadosh” (“our master, the Holy One”)?
Because he never looked at the organ of the Milah itself.
And why was Nachum Ish GamZu called “Kodesh HaKodashim” (“Holy of Holies” – that is, even holier than Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi)?
Because he never looked at the appearance of a coin in his entire life.