Safed
Table of Contents: Culture and History / Travel to Safed, visa requirements / Get around / Safed attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Learn / Shopping, Safed souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Safed nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get out More from Israel: Amirim, Ashkelon, Beth Shean Valley, Bnei Brak, Carmel Range, Eilat, Ein Gedi, Haifa, Herzliya, Jerusalem, Masada, Megiddo, Modiin, Nazareth, Negev, Netanya, North Coast (Israel), Petach Tikva, Rehovot, Safed, Sea of Galilee, Tel Aviv, Upper Galilee More from Middle East: Bahrain, Dead Sea, Empty Quarter, Golan Heights, Holy Land, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Levant, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen More from Asia: Caucasus, Central Asia, East Asia, Middle East, Southeast Asia |
Safed [1] (Hebrew: צפת Tsfat) is one of the oldest centers for Jewish learning and spirituality, home to the Kabbalah movement which is popular with celebreties.
Culture and History
It is the birthplace of the Kabbalah, and one of the main bastions for Torah study and the like during the centuries of Ottoman rule. It is one of the four holiest cities in Judaism, along with Hebron, Tiberias, and of course Jerusalem. While there are many stories about when it was founded, and by whom, it truly grew to prominence in the late 15th century when it became a refuge for Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition.
It is a cute, quaint city in the north of Israel, and has in recent years regained popularity, not only as a center for study, but also as an artists' colony.
Travel to Safed, visa requirements
Get around
Safed attractions and sightseeing
- There are a number of old, beautiful, and unique synagogues in Tsfat, some of them rather famous world-wide among the Jewish community. These include:
- The "Abuhav" synagogue is probably the most unique, most beautiful, and most famous. It was built in the 1490's according to Kabbalistic architectural and spiritual beliefs.
- The "Caro" synagogue is another popular landmark, established in the 16th century on the site of a yeshiva run by one of the chief rabbis of Tsfat, and a compiler of the Shulchan Aruch, a book of Jewish law.
Both of these synagogues follow Sephardic traditions, and both, along with all the synagogues in Tsfat, and most around the country and the world, expect all visitors to be dressed appropriately; this means one must have legs covered (no shorts or short skirts), no bare shoulders/upper arms, and all men must cover their heads.
- The Ancient Synagogue is the buriel place of many famous Rabbis and is a common destination for visitors to Tsfat looking for answers to their prayers. Some famous Jewish personalities buried there include:
- The Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria), the famous kabbalist of the 16th century.
- Rabbi Joseph Karo, the author of the Shulchan Aruch, the definetive code of Jewish Law.
- Chana and her seven sons, the martyred family from the time of the Temple.
Some other places to see in Tsfat that shouldn't be missed:
- Tzaddik Educational Visitor's Center featuring the Third Temple Model Exhibit and Multi-Media Presentation
- Great Breslov Synagogue
- Meiri Museum for Safed History
- Printing Press Museum
- Artist colony in the Old City
- Biblical Museum in the Fortress Garden
- Statue Garden and the Gallery of sculptor Moshe Ziffer
- The sephardic Ari Synagogue
- The city also boasts a growing number of small, private art galleries, many of which have little cafes or tourist shops attached, selling postcards, t-shirts, and other basic tourist goods.
Visit the non-profit Experience Tsfat Resource Guide [2] for more information on the historic synagogues, galleries and the ancient synagogue.
City tours
After Jerusalem, Tsfat is probably one of the best places in the country to get cultural and religious items. A narrow cobblestone street is lined with open-air shops selling everything from menorahs to mezuzahs, Seder plates and Shabbat candlesticks to swords and other historical/cultural items. These shops are also known for pictures that are made up of the words of songs or Scripture. At the end of this shopping street is a shop called "Nerot Tsfat," or Safed Candles. They sell beautiful candles in every size, shape, and color, as well as displaying a number of scenes in wax, including David & Goliath, Noah's Ark, and a wedding.
Learn
There are several Daf Yomi classes in Tsfat in several languages. Visit the non-profit Experience Tsfat Resource Guide's Classes page [3] for more information.
In addition, there are several museums in Tsfat, honoring and sharing the town's important place in Jewish history and culture. The Museum of Hungarian Jewry and the Beit Hameiri Museum, which chronicles Tsfat's local history.
Shopping, Safed souvenirs
Good restaurants and cheap meals
This section of the city is built in layers, or tiers. The shopping arcade and synagogues are on the middle level, and at the top is a more modern street, mostly cafes and restaurants, along with a number of other shops selling a variety of more mundane, secular, merchandise. Falafel, shawarma, pizza, and other basic foods are relatively cheap, and very good here.
Safed nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Most people staying overnight in Tsfat choose to stay at the small guest houses throughout the Old City, Artists' Quarter and the South of Tsfat. For a free list of these guest houses visit the non-profit Experience Tsfat Resource Guide [4] the lodging page [5]
You can stay in nearby Amirim.
Get out
More from Israel: Amirim, Ashkelon, Beth Shean Valley, Bnei Brak, Carmel Range, Eilat, Ein Gedi, Haifa, Herzliya, Jerusalem, Masada, Megiddo, Modiin, Nazareth, Negev, Netanya, North Coast (Israel), Petach Tikva, Rehovot, Safed, Sea of Galilee, Tel Aviv, Upper Galilee More from Middle East: Bahrain, Dead Sea, Empty Quarter, Golan Heights, Holy Land, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Levant, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen More from Asia: Caucasus, Central Asia, East Asia, Middle East, Southeast Asia |
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