Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

TSEFAT

For Jewish settlers and visitors during the last five hundred years Tsefat has been one of Eretz Yisrael's "sacred cities." A visit to its ancient synagogues and cemetery takes one back to the golden days of the city when Rabbi Yitzchak Luria ("Arizal") and his disciples established it as the center of Kabbalistic learning. Here too lived and died Rabbi Yosef Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Shlomo Alkebetz, author of the "Lecha Dodi" sung on Shabbat eve, and Rabbi Yaakov Berrav, who made an abortive attempt to reestablish the Sanhedrin, and many other famous saints and scholars.

The cool air and beautiful surroundings of Tsefat attract many people from the entire country during the summer, but the year-long population remains small. A curious blend of art, music and mysticism endows this city with a unique personality during peak season. Among the Torah institutions functioning in Tsefat is "Shalom Rav," a yeshiva for students with limited backgrounds, headed by American-born Rabbi Rafael Weingot and a similar seminary for women, Sharei Bina, run by his wife.