Things To do in Israel

Caro Synagogue

Decorated with Middle Eastern arches, hanging lamps and bookshelves heavy with sacred texts, that this synagogue — such as the road it is about — is called in honor of Toledo-born Rabbi Yosef Caro (1488–1575), author of the Shulchan Aruch (the very authoritative codification of Jewish law). It was set as a home of research at the 1500s but was reconstructed following the earthquakes of 1759 and 1837 — and in 1903.

Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue

Founded in the 16th century by Sephardic Jews from Greece, this venerable synagogue appears much as it did 150 decades back. It stands to the site at which, according to convention, the great Kabbalist Yitzhak Luria (Isaac Luria; 1534–72; frequently called the Ari) used to greet the Sabbath. From the 18th century it came to function Tsfat’s Ashkenazi Hasidic community, thus the synagogue’s title (that the Jerusalem-born Ari himself needed a Sephardic mom and an Ashkenazi dad ).

Memorial Museum of Hungarian Speaking Jewry

Evocative artefacts (such as a synagogue ark in Tokaj), documents and photographs do a masterful job of remembering the lost world of pre-WWII Hungarian-speaking Jewry. A 17-minute movie offers historical context. If you are interested, museum cofounder Chava Lustig might be prepared tell you about life from the Budapest ghetto (1944–45), which she lived as a 14-year-old. The memorial includes extensive archives for people interested in doing family research. For a tour, phone beforehand.

Sephardic Ari Synagogue

Tsfat’s oldest synagogue — it is mentioned in papers from as far back as 1522 — has been frequented by the Ari, the fantastic 16th-century Kabbalist, who found inspiration in the scenic views of Mt Meron and also the grave of Shimon bar Yochai. On the remaining elevated bimah (stage ) is a little area, shining with candles, where he is thought to have studied mysterious texts together with the prophet Elijah. The current structure is partially the consequence of rebuilding following the earthquake of 1837.

Safed Craft Pottery

UK-born potter Daniel Flatauer functions in the English studio design tradition, making tableware, kitchenware and Judaica that’s both functional and incredibly beautiful. He’s one of those only salt kilns in Israel — in case you are not certain what that means, inquire and also functions with fiendishly difficult crystalline glazes. If the door is secured, give him a ring.

Canaan Gallery

Continuing Tsfat’s centuries-old fabric tradition, started by Jews fleeing the Inquisition, Orna and Yair Moore’s studio creates richly textured tapestries, wall hangings and Egyptian ritual items (talitot, kippot, challah covers) in addition to shawls and scarves made of cotton and chenille. You’re able to view weavers at work up one floor from the store.

General Safed Exhibition

Founded in 1952, this group gallery — housed in the desanctified, Ottoman-era Market Mosque — shows, ships and sells functions by roughly 50 eight and painters sculptors, such as some quite gifted immigrants from the former Soviet Union. If you end up interested by a specific artist’s job, request directions to your own studio.

Kabbalah Art

Denver-born David Friedman uses the puzzles of the Hebrew alphabet, Kabbalistic symbols like the Tree of Life, along with the universal language of color and geometry to produce striking visual representations of Kabbalah, and is pleased to provide people a brief introduction to Kabbalah. Located about 150m shore of HaMaginim Sq..

Tzfat Gallery of Mystical Art

Avraham Loewenthal, that hails from Detroit, is pleased to describe the character of his inspirational paintings and paintings, whose subjective forms are suspended in Kabbalistic theories. Located Throughout the road from HaMa’ayan HaRadum Sq..

Tombs of the Kabbalists

The graves of several of Tsfat’s best sages and Kabbalists are roughly one-fifth of their way down the incline of the Egyptian Cemetery, only below a lone pine tree in a region where the converging double paths are covered with translucent roof. If you can not see Hebrew, ask passersby for help in locating the tomb of Yitzhak Luria (Isaac Luria; born in Jerusalem in 1534, expired in Tsfat at 1572), aka HaAri, the father of contemporary Jewish mysticism (Lurianic Kabbalah).

HaMeiri Museum

Housed in a 150-year-old building that once served as the chair of Tsfat’s rabbinical court, this tradition illustrates Jewish life in Tsfat throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Exhibits consist of exceptional family and Jewish ritual items produced by local tinsmiths employing empty kerosene cans (some actually integrate the Shell emblem into the design). To get there, go all of the way into the bottom of this Ma’alot Olei HaGardom stairs and turn right.

Abuhav Synagogue

Named after the 15th-century Spanish scholar Rabbi Yitzhak Abuhav, this synagogue was set in the 16th century but transferred to its current place following the 1759 earthquake. The ornately carved courtyard, revived in the late 20th century, is frequently used for weddings.

Kadosh Dairy

Run from the Kadosh family for seven years, this microdairy creates minuscule amounts of sharp, salty gvina Tzfatit (Tsfat-style cheese, green for 2 months), in addition to a wide variety of different cheeses, such as blue cheese, kashkaval along with pecorino, and homemade ice cream. You may normally watch cheese being produced on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8am to 3pm. To arrive from the Synagogue Quarter, follow the signs down the mountain to’Safed Cheeze’ or’Zefat Cheeze’.

Safed Candles Gallery

If you have ever wondered Shabbat, Havdalah and Hanukkah candles are dipped, decorated and braided, drop by to see a specialist candlemaker in the office — she is frequently here before 4pm from Sunday to Thursday. Other literary highlights comprise the world’s biggest braided Havdalah candle (it has got 180 strands) plus a few masterworks of kitsch: David holding aloft the severed head of Goliath, Samson combating the Philistines and a chess set which summarizes a line-up of renowned Hasidim against both renowned Litvaks (Misnagdim).

Citadel Ruins & Cistern

Close to the southern tip of Citadel Park, the destroys of a few of the citadel’s interior walls could be understood across Chativat Yiftach St. From that point, a path and stairs lead up the mountain, involving Crusader wallsinto some perspective ; walk beneath an old water heater and you’re going to get into a dark, apartment, 20m-long tube (watch your step) that takes you into an early rock cistern. Stand in the center and see exactly what happens if you clap. Additional footpaths lead until the ridge line, which affords panoramic views in most directions.

HaMeiri Dairy

Run by precisely the exact same family for centuries, this little dairy takes roughly 80,000 minutes of sheep’s milk per year and turns into yummy cheeses, such as tender, salty grated cheese (aged for a complete year) and many different gvina Tzfatit (Tsfat-style cheese, green for 2 months) that is tougher, saltier and sheepier than the supermarket — both may be bought in the very small deli counter.

Fig Tree Courtyard

Place around a centenarian fig tree along with also a 9m-deep cistern (visible through a glass floor panel), this selection of four paintings is just one of Tsfat’s classiest — highlights include hand-woven Judaica and lovely silver jewellery. In the rooftop terrace you’ll be able to see half of the Galilee, from Mt Meron all of the way south to Mt Tabor, together with the shore of Amud Stream (Nahal Amud) from the depths below. Restrooms available.

Ari’s Mikveh

A boldface Hebrew signal on the gate reads’entrance for guys only’. The reasonwhy: not anxiety about girls but rather the simple fact that interior nude men are carrying ritually purifying dips from the trendy, slightly turgid waters of a pure spring. According to some traditions, the spring has been used by the Ari (the fantastic 16th-century Kabbalist); those times the website is particularly popular with Breslov (Bratzlav) Hasidim.

Davidka Monument

This monument recalls the role performed with the home made Davidka mortar in procuring the Jewish success at the 1948 Battle of Tsfat. Its 40kg cubes were famously unsuccessful, however, their loud booms could have generated a rumour that Jewish forces needed a nuclear bomb, sowing fear among the Arab inhabitants. Approximately 3m to the left, a free audio guide tells the dramatic tale of the struggle for Tsfat from 1947 and 1948 — by the Israeli perspective, of course.

House of Love & Prayer

Hasidic synagogue that sings its Shabbat prayers in the mellow spiritual heritage of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. Those trying to plead on Shabbat are all welcome.