Kever Yonatan Ben Uziel Amuka
(Hebrew: עמוקה / Translation: Amuka / Pronunciation Am-oo-kah /Other Names: Gravesite of Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel / Definition: Gravesite of Talmudic-Era Rabbi / Description: Pilgrimage site for singles hoping to find their matches)
Amuka, located on the western edge of the Biriya forest, is an ancient gravesite of a Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel. Tradition relates that singles who pray at the gravesite of this rabbi will find their “zivug” -- true soulmate. The site attracts many singles, both men and women, of all ages and levels of Jewish practice.
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Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel
Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel was a student of Rabbi Hillel and lived in the first century A.D. In the Talmud tractate Sukkah [28a] it is written that when birds flew over his head they burned due to the presence of the angels who came to hear Rabbi Ben Uziel study Torah.
Rabbi Ben Uziel is best known for his Translation of the Prophets, the “Targum, into Aramaic, the vernacular of his day. The Talmud tractate Megilla [3a] writes that he planned to author a translation and commentary on the Writings as well but the heavens prevented this from happening because they did not want him to reveal the secrets of the final redemption.
Tradition Regarding Marriage
Jewish tradition relates that Yonatan Ben Uziel never married because he preferred to dedicate all of his time to his Torah studies. Toward the end of his life he regretted this so in order to encourage marriages he gave a blessing that all those who are unmarried will find their soulmates within a period of one year if they visit his resting place. His gravesite at Amuka is a compelling pilgrimage site for singles who pray that, through Rabbi Ben Uziel’s intervention in the heavens, they will meet their soulmate.
Stories
Stories abound regarding individuals who pray at Amuka seeking a match. A number of stories revolve around people who intentionally “forgot” their “siddur” -- prayer book -- with their name and contact details. The siddur was picked up and contact was initiated with a possible match. Other singles who had searched for their match for many years describe miraculously meeting someone very soon after their visit to Amuka.
Proxy
Within Jewish tradition, it is customary for people who cannot themselves visit a holy site to commission someone to do so in their place. This generally involves paying someone to pray on their behalf.A number of people in Tzfat are prepared to undertake this mission and pray at Yonatan Ben Uziel’s gravesite on behalf of others.
Location
Amuka is located outside of Tzfat in the Biriya forest, along the road that goes by the Bat Ya’ar Ranch. There is also a small village, called “Amuka” consisting of several dozen families, within a few minutes walk of the gravesite.
To get to Amuka from Tzfat, visitors must drive or take a cab as there are no buses that drive by the area. Drivers drive north out of Tzfat, cross over the Biriya junction and continue northward into the Birya forest. At the traffic circle, the Ibikur neighborhood is to the right of the junction and the road that goes left, westward, reaches Amuka. Signs help direct visitors who must park along the side of the road and walk down the path to the gravesite.
A trail also leads out of the Old Jewish Quarter to Amuka. Hikers are advised to obtain a good map or directions before embarking on the walk.