Safed and Art

Safed (Hebrew צפָת) is a city in Galilee in northern Israel, one of the four holy cities for Jews, along with Jerusalem, Tiberias and Hebron. According to Jewish tradition, Safed was founded after the Flood by Noah’s son Shem (Shem).
Safed is located on Mount Canaan (Canaan) at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. The distance to the west to the Mediterranean Sea is 60 km, to Tel Aviv – about 160 km, to Jerusalem – about 200 km. From the height at which the city is located, an amazingly beautiful view of Lake Tiberias opens up, in the west, in the distance, the Mediterranean Sea and in the north – the snow-covered peak of Hermon. The name of the city in translation means – “observation point”. Safed is the tallest city in Israel, which is clearly visible from everywhere. In ancient times, signal lights were lit on the mountain. The city is mentioned in the writings of Joseph Flavius, in the Talmud, has a rich history, conveyed both in historical writings and in legends.
After the mass expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, many prominent Jews, famous rabbis and teachers moved here. Among them were the Kabbalists Moshe Cordovero, who wrote books in Safed on the hidden sides of the Torah; Rabbi Joseph Karo, who created the fundamental code of Jewish laws “Shulchan Aruch”; the composer of the Shabbat hymn “Leha Dodi” Shlomo Halevi Alkabets. At the end of 1569 or at the beginning of 1570, Yitzhak Luria arrived in Safed, who lived in Safed for only two years, died and was buried in the famous cemetery called the House of the Living. Those who have rested here await the coming of the Messiah, who must first come to Galilee, Safed, and then go to Jerusalem.
The influx of Jews throughout the 15th and 16th centuries transformed Safed into a global center for Jewish education and trade. In the 16th-17th centuries, Safed gained fame as the center of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism.
There are numerous tombs of Jewish sages of the past near Safed. One of the most famous is the grave of Rashbi, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son. On the anniversary of his death – Lag ba-Omer – on the 33rd day after the first day of Passover, up to half a million people come to his grave with their aspirations. Another grave, Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel, is located in a place called “Amuka”.
Our story about Safed continues.

Used Safed photos of Igor Bernstein