More Tsfat!

It was really fun walking around the beautiful city of Tsfat, with its narrow cobblestone streets lined with knickknack souks and local artists’ shops.  We toured many old synagogues that each told its own amazing story.  The synagogue of “the Ari,” which means “the Lion” in Hebrew, was my favorite.  The ark was ornately designed with flowers and fruits, which I believe I read was a traditional Sephardic/Mediterranean design.  There was a large antique chair hidden in the back for Elijah and our guidebook said local lore is that if a Jewish couple sits in the chair, they will have a son within the year!  I asked Jeremy if we can try it!  Like the responsible fiancé he is, he said we don't want to have a child a few months before we're married.  I said, “But what if we don’t and we prove it wrong?” and Jeremy said, “Do you really want to disprove a legend like that?!”  I guess not…  We’ll have to come back!  The funny thing is…later that night, out of nowhere, a man at our hotel started telling us our future using Numerology and he said we must get pregnant in the next year!  Ooooo……creepy…..what a coincidence!

The synagogue of the Ari was hit by shrapnel during the 1948 siege, when it was full of worshippers.  It’s said that the worshippers were all bent in prayer, so the shrapnel flew over their heads and lodged in the central platform, sparing anyone from injury!  So, now you have a little taste of the magic of Tsfat!

Jeremy and I at the synagogue of The Ari.

Some interesting tidbits about Kabbalah… The Ari (aka Rabbi Yitzhak) was a major figure in the Jewish community in Tsfat and a major figure in furthering Kabbalistic studies.  He meant for Kabbalah to be more of a higher form of study, for only the most devout students of the Torah.  He probably wouldn’t be cool with Madonna doing whatever she’s doing.  She’s probably not meeting all 613 commandments!  Also, the Ari introduced the Kabbalat Shabbat, which is still customary to perform on Friday nights even today!

We explored sites presently being excavated, which reveal ancient ruins!

We looked out to Mt. Meron, a two-humped mountain, which a celebratory procession flocks to on the holiday of Lag B’Omer.

The sun shining through the clouds over Mt. Meron seems very fitting in the land of milk and honey!

Jeremy also took me to a really awesome candle shop, renowned in the region, called Safed Candles (Safed is the English spelling of Tsfat). 

A wax sculpture of Noah's Ark, complete with our favorite cartoon animals!

Angry birds ala wax candle!

We followed the signs through the winding streets to find Kadosh Zefat Cheese and met the brothers who had inherited the business which I believe they said has been passed down for 8 generations.  They invited us in and gave me delicious, spiced coffee to drink (Jeremy doesn't like coffee).  We tasted their delicious cheeses and halva and had a snack of their dolmas.  Their honey, cashew halva is sinful….SO amazing and so much better tasting than the nasty stuff I bought at Whole Foods.

It was a very picturesque and unique city with some of the nicest people we’ve met so far on our trip!  Here’s some more magic we witnessed in Tsfat….

Magic chair!

What's this bird sitting on?!