Tzfat Tiyul

by Leah Sehati,      11^th grade,          Ventura CA

Last Thursday we took a class tiyul to the city of Tzfat located in Northern Israel. Tzfat is one of the holiest cities in Israel and is best known for being the site of the start of Jewish mysticism. It is a very touristy town that is famously known for its art and judaica.

mural by the famous street artist Solomon with mystical images that appears in Tzfat

One of the kabbalist rabbis of Tzfat, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai who is also known by the name of Rashbi shares his view on the coming of the Moshiach in the holy book of the kabbalah called the Zohar, which is a mystical text that talks about the secrets of the Torah. After the expulsion from Spain in 1492 Sephardi Jews settled in the city and were intent on waiting for the Moshiach to come immenently. They believed that the reason why the Moshiach hasn’t come to the world yet was because the Jewish people were not performing all the mitzvot in the correct way.

inerior of the famous Yosef Karo synagogue in Tzfat

One important Kabbalistic concept we learned about was the ten Sefirot or the ten attributes of Kabbalah. These ten Sefirot were the main plots for the Kabbalah and stand as the creative forces that intervene between one’s self and the "Ein Sof" or the unknowable God, and the world that was created for us. At the top of the ten Sefirot is the crown (Keter), right below there is wisdom (Hokmah) and understanding (Binah), below wisdom there is love (Hesed) and below understanding, there is power (Gevurah). Following love and power there is beauty or Tiferet. Under beauty there is splendor (Hod) and Eternity (Netsah), below there is foundation (Yesod) and last but not least there is God's presence or Shekhinah.

stain glass window in the Ari synagogue in Tzfat showing the 10 sefirot

In the early 16^th century, the famous mystic and Torah scholar Rabbi Yosef Karo believed that the reason why the Moshiach had not yet came to was because the Jews weren't doing all the mitzvot in the correct way and order. This led to him writing the Shulchan Aruch to teach Am Yisrael how to be Jewish in a more modern world.

the main corridor of the artists quarter in Tzfat

Another mystical element that was created in Tzfat  was Lecha Dodi, or “Come my beloved” which is a song that is sung during Kabbalat Shabbat cthat onnects Jewish communities with each other not only because it has a very catchy tune, but it can also be interpreted in a way where God is telling us Jews to come to view the Shabbat as a taste of the world to come (HaOlam HaBa). Although Tzfat is one of the less wealthy cities in Israel it really has so many gems that attract tourists to go visit. The city of Tzfat is very gifted in all types of art, such as paintings, wall art, jewelry, handmade sculptures, music and much more.

an immense candle of the biblical Samson at the Tzfat candle shop

a giant candle of Noah's ark at the Tzfat candle shop