City of Tz'fat (aka Safed) - now a hotbed of art, once the center of the study of Kabbala

The city of Safed (pronounced "Tz'fat"), like so much of Israel, has a history going back many centuries.  Several of the most important of its colorful personalities lived there in the 1500s.

The Jewish Friday night service at the start of the Sabbath was observed for many centuries before that, but the rabbis of that era made many changes that endure to this day.  Isaac Luria - known as "Ari" which means "lion" but is an acronym for his name Ashkenazi Rabbi Isaac (the acronym works in both English and Hebrew!)  was the leader of a group of rabbis who studied Jewish mysticism and many aspects of Jewish practices.  One of his disciples was Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, who wrote the poem "L'Cha Dodi" which welcomes the Sabbath as a groom welcomes his bride.  This beautiful poem has been put to music numerous times, and most synagogues will use a variety of melodies.

Another rabbi whose contributions to Judaism were equally significant, if not more so.  Rabbi Joseph Caro compiled the Shulhan Aruch, a compendium of all of the laws of Judaism that was published in four volumes but today takes up a full bookshelf (with commentaries surrounding the text).  Even today, it is recognized as the ultimate authority in determining Jewish practices by observant Jews everywhere.

Here are some photos recognizing the past of Safed - including the synagogue where Rabbi Caro studied:

  

After leaving Rabbi Caro's synagogue, we went down several streets containing numerous artistic shops.  Some were dedicated to weaving - they did some beautiful work.   I bought a kippah (yarmulke) that had been created by the woman we saw working at her loom.

There are also a number of establishments whose artists specialize in micro-calligraphy.  As one might expect, they specialize in the Jewish sacred texts.  The Torah, or Five Books of Moses, are one of the important products, as are the Psalms, the Song of Solomon, and the books of Esther and Ruth.  I told the proprietor of a large shop that I had seen his work (or so I believed) in my synagogue in Cleveland.  He immediately listed a few synagogues by name and location and asked which one.  He is, apparently, well-respected in Cleveland's Jewish community!