Things To do in Israel

Caro Synagogue

It is decorated in Middle Eastern arches, hanging lamps, and bookshelves stuffed with sacred texts, this synagogue , as well as the street it’s around — has been named in the honor of Toledo’s the Rabbi Yosef Caro (1488–1575), creator of the Shulchan Aruch (the very authoritative codification of Jewish law). The synagogue was established as a research center in the 1500s, but was rebuilt following the earthquakes in 1759 and 1837and then in 1903 it was reopened.

Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue

Established in the 16th century with the help of Sephardic Jews from Greece, the venerable synagogue looks like it did 150 years ago. It is located on the spot where, as per tradition, the great Kabbalist Yitzhak Luria (Isaac Luria; 1534-72 often referred to as the Ari) was known to have a ritual of greeting the Sabbath. Since the 18th century, it became the Tsfat’s Ashkenazi Hasidic group, hence the synagogue’s name (that is, the Jewish-born Ari himself required the support of a Sephardic mother and an Ashkenazi father ).

Memorial Museum of Hungarian Speaking Jewry

Artefacts that evoke emotion (such as a synagogue’s arch in Tokaj) as well as documents and photos do a superb job of recalling the pre-WWII world of lost Hungarian-speaking Jewry. A film of 17 minutes provides historical background. If you’re interested in it in the museum’s co-founder Chava Lustig may be willing to talk about her experiences in the Budapest Ghetto (1944–45) that she lived in as a young girl. The memorial contains vast archives for those looking to conduct research on their families. For tours, contact the museum ahead.

Sephardic Ari Synagogue

The oldest synagogue in Tsfat — which is mentioned in documents from to 1522. It was frequented by Ari, the amazing 16th-century Kabbalist who was inspired in the beautiful view from Mt Meron and also the graveyard of Shimon bar Yochai. The remaining Bimah (stage ) there is a small space, glistening with candles, in which he was believed to have read mysterious texts along with the prophet Elijah. The present structure is result of the reconstruction after the 1837 earthquake.

Safed Craft Pottery

The British-born potter Daniel Flatauer functions in the English studio design tradition, producing tableware, kitchenware , and Judaica that is both practical and gorgeous. He’s the only one of these salt kilns found in Israel In case you’re not sure about what that means, you can ask and also works with incredibly hard crystal glazes. When the doors are locked you can call him.

Canaan Gallery

The Tsfat tradition, which dates back to the 1800s, continues that was started by Jews who fled from the Inquisition, Orna and Yair Moore’s studio makes exquisitely textured tapestries as well as wall hangings and Egyptian ritual objects (talitot, the kippot, and the covers for challah) as well as scarves and shawls made from cotton, chenille and. You can see weaver working on their wares up a level from the shop.

General Safed Exhibition

Established in 1952, this group gallery — located in the Ottoman-era, desecrated Market Mosque — shows ships, sells and functions with around 50 eight artists, sculptors and painters, including many talented migrants from ex- Soviet Union. If you are intrigued by a particular artist’s task you can request directions to your studio.

Kabbalah Art

The Denver native David Friedman uses the puzzles of the Hebrew alphabet, Kabbalistic symbols like the Tree of Life, along with the universal geometry and language of color to create striking images of Kabbalah and is happy to give people a brief overview of Kabbalah. It is located about 150m from the shore of HaMaginim Sq..

Tzfat Gallery of Mystical Art

Avraham Loewenthal, who hails from Detroit and is delighted to talk about the nature of his uplifting paintings and drawings which are subjective and wrapped within Kabbalistic theories. The road is located across the street to HaMa’ayan HaRadum Sq..

Tombs of the Kabbalists

The graves of many of Tsfat’s greatest sages as well as Kabbalists are about one-fifth through the incline in the Egyptian Cemetery just below the lone pine in the area where the two paths that connect are covered by a translucent roof. If you cannot read Hebrew and ask to help you locate the burial site of Yitzhak Luria (Isaac Luria, was born at Jerusalem in 1534, died in Tsfat in 1572), also known as HaAri, who was the founder of modern Jewish Mysticism (Lurianic Kabbalah).

HaMeiri Museum

The building is 150 years old and which was once the chair of the Tsfat rabbinical court The rabbinical court’s tradition is a great illustration of Jewish daily life at Tsfat during the 19th and the early 20th century. The exhibits are comprised of extraordinary families and Jewish ritual items made by local tinsmiths using empty kerosene containers (some even incorporate the Shell symbol into their designs). To access the exhibits, take a trip all the way to the very bottom of the Ma’alot Olei HaGardom stairs and take a left.

Abuhav Synagogue

The name is a reference to the 15th century Spanish expert Rabbi Yitzhak Abuhav. the synagogue was built at the end of the 16th century, but moved to its present location after the 1759 earthquake. The intricately carved courtyard revitalized in the latter 20th century, is often used for weddings.

Kadosh Dairy

The company has been part of to the Kadosh the Kadosh family over seven years. This microdairy produces small quantities of salty, sharp Gvina Tzfatit (Tsfat-style cheese that is green for two months) as well as many different cheeses like blue cheese kashkaval and pecorino as well as homemade frozen ice cream. You can usually see cheese being made on Tuesday, Sunday and Thursday, from 8am until 3pm. To reach in the Synagogue Quarter, follow the indications down the mountain for ‘Safed Cheeze or ‘Zefat Cheeze’.

Safed Candles Gallery

If you’ve ever wondered how Shabbat, Havdalah and Hanukkah candles are decorated, dipped and then braided, come in and see a skilled candle maker in our officeshe’s usually here between 4pm on Sundays and Thursday. Other literary highlights include the largest knotted Havdalah candle (it contains 180 strands) as well as a few masterworks that are kitsch-like: David with his head cut off by Goliath, Samson combating the Philistines and an chess set that outlines the famous Hasidim versus both famous litvaks (Misnagdim).

Citadel Ruins & Cistern

Near the southern end in Citadel Park, the destroys of a portion of the citadel’s inner walls can be seen through Chativat Yiftach St. From the point, a pathway and stairs will lead you upwards, taking the Crusader’s walls from a different perspective ; stroll under the old heater for water, and you’ll be able to enter the dark, apartment-like 20-metre-long tube (watch your steps) that leads you to the early rock cistern. You can stand in the middle and watch what happens when you clap. Other footpaths take you to the ridge line, which offers stunning views from all directions.

HaMeiri Dairy

It is run by the exact same family for generations the tiny dairy uses approximately 80000 minutes of sheep’s milk every year. It then turns into delicious cheeses, including soft salted grated cheese (aged for a whole year) and a variety of gvina Tzfatit (Tsfat-style cheese that is green for two months) which is more tough more salty and sheepier than your typical supermarket — both can be purchased at the tiny the deli counter.

Fig Tree Courtyard

A hundred-year-old fig tree, and an cistern that is 9 meters deep (visible through a transparent floor panel) This collection of four paintings is one of the most elegant Tsfat has to offer.highlights are hand-woven Judaica and beautiful silver jewelry. The rooftop terrace is where there is a view of part of Galilee starting beginning from Mt Meron all of the way up to Mt Tabor, together with the shores of Amud Stream (Nahal Amud) in the bottom of the. Restrooms available.

Ari’s Mikveh

A boldface Hebrew warning at the gate reads ‘entrance only is only for males’. The reason for this is not fear over girls but the fact that inside males are taking dips to purify themselves from the fashionable mildly turgid waters of an uncontaminated spring. According to certain traditions that the spring was utilized for centuries by Ari (the amazing 16th century Kabbalist) and in those days the site is especially well-liked by Breslov (Bratzlav) Hasidim.

Davidka Monument

The monument is a reminder of the work that the family-made Davidka mortar to secure Jewish victory in the battle of Tsfat. The 40kg cubes of the mortar were infamously unproductive, but their loud blasts could have led to the idea that Jewish forces required the use of a nuclear weapon, which would have created terror within the Arab residents. About 3m further to left the free audio guide narrates the dramatic story of the fight for Tsfat between 1947 to 1948 — from the Israeli perspective, of course.

House of Love & Prayer

Hasidic synagogue which sings its Shabbat prayers with the gentle spiritual tradition from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. People who want to plead for Shabbat are welcomed.