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Safed attractions
Safed attractions
Synagogues - 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 Ari Ashkenaz and the Ari Sephard synagogues both in memory of Rabbi Isaac Luria. The Ari Ashkenaz is normally open for visitors on weekdays and boasts an ornate ark. The Ari Sephard synagogue is only open for prayers on the Sabbath.
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. (Synagogue personnel provide head coverings and shawls for travelers who come to visit the sites).
The Ancient Cemetery is the burial 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 definitive code of Jewish Law.
Rabbi Moshe Cordevero (the Ramak), a famous kabbalist predating the Arizal.
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 :
HaMeiri Museum for Safed History
Artist colony in the Old City including the Exhibition Centre in Safed Big Mosque
The Crusader Fortress
Statue Garden and the Gallery of sculptor Moshe Ziffer
The Red Khan - a significant Mameluk palace
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.
Livnot U'Lehibanot, Rehov Alkabetz 17, ☎ (050)8939-042, . Most tourists try to stop in the Tzfat Tourist Information Center for their first overview of Tzfat. The Center provides maps and guidebooks as well as information about tour guides, accommodations, and other information for Tzfat. There is a 10-minute movie that gives an overview of the History of Tzfat, as well as 800-year-old antiquities which, now uncovered, offer visitors an opportunity to see the original rooms and buildings of Tzfat of the 1300s and 1400s, which have been excavated by the Livnot U'Lehibanot Israel Experience Program.
Through the Information Center , individuals and groups can experience Tzfat through hiking, Tzfat-Theatre, storytelling, musical tours, discussions and lectures about Judaism, sessions of Ask the Rabbi, and explanations of Mysticism in Tzfat. There are also interactive workshops and seminars which include writing tefillin, challah-baking, candle-making, tying Tzitzit, songs and much more. 972-4-6924427 or [email protected] �
Around Safed:
Pekiin - an ancient town of mixed ethnicity including Druze sites, orthodox churches and a synagogue. There is a spring at the town centre.
Amirim - a vegetarian settlement with developed rural tourism infrastructure
Rosh Pina - a beautiful 19th Century old town with many restaurants
Korazim - a talmudic town with a synagogue watching over the Sea of Galilee
Church of Beatitude
Tel Hazor - a World Heritage Site. A Biblical tel with an extensive underground water system. At nearby Ayelet HaShahar there is a museum dedicated to the site.
Hula Lake - the best site in Israel to watch migrating birds. Find out in advance which is the best time to visit the site. There is an informative film shown at the site.
Tel Hai - a site of one of the most iconic struggles between Zionists and Arabs before the establishment of Israel
Manara Cliff - a cable car leading to a beautiful park watching over Lebanon
Tel Dan - a beautiful nature reserve with Israel's largest spring. It also contains a Biblical tel and Abraham Gate which is one of the world's earliest attested arch constructions. Nearby Osishkin House is a museum documenting the tel and its natural environment.
The Museum of Prehistoric Man at Maayan Baruch
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Safed
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Safed - updated May 2024
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Safed Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.