The video shows the landscape surrounding the cemetery in Zfat as well as the grave of the ARI, the famous medieval Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, from the side. What you also see are the special pathways for the Cohanim (Temple Priests) who are not allowed to enter a cemetery due to purity reasons. Nowadays, you can find special pathways allowing the Cohanim to enter cemeteries. As long as they don't step onto the ground.
What always strikes me at the cemetery in Zfat are all the special pathways for Cohanim and women which are actually making other graves inaccessible. Just look at the graves underneath the stage in front of the graves of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz and Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.
B"H After filming the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue in Zfat, I did the same with the Sephardi counterpart. One thing I really need to say: The Sephardi Synagogue of the famous medieval Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534 - 1572), is much more spiritual and not as commercial as the Ashkenazi one further up the hill.
While passing the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue this Tuesday, I even saw a Christian tour group coming out of the door. Every day, tour buses enter Zfat but the only thing the guides show their clients is the artist market in the old city. Shopping and entering the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue in order to see, at least, one Synagogue before rushing back to the bus. As I told you before, almost every old Synagogue in the old city is occupied by some old guy putting himself in charge and asking for a donation. I have had the same experience inside of the Sephardi ARI Synagogue and next time I will be in Zfat, I may even take a small table and set up myself as the person being in charge.:-))) I don't understand why the Municipality or the Chief Rabbi of Zfat don't take care of these places and protect them from private exploitation. Anyone can just walk in and claim that "he is in charge". Furthermore, I noticed at the Sephardi ARI Synagogue that even more bums walking around outside and entering the Synagogue from time to time, are claiming to have something to say. Finding the Sephardi ARI Synagogue is not as easy as the Ashkenazi one. The latter is located in the middle of the old city, very close to Kikar Ha'Meginim. The Sephardi ARI Synagogue, however, is located right across the ancient cemetery in Ha'Ari Street. Between Me'iri and Kadosh cheese.
The Sephardi ARI Synagogue from the outside
Inside the courtyard of the Sephardi ARI Synagogue
After entering, I had to fight my way through, as there was a young Sephardi Haredi who didn't want me inside the Synagogue at all although the place is open to ALL visitors. As I said, some people just feel like being in charge telling others what to do. Nevertheless, I had already given a donation to a guy sitting at the doorway (who claimed that he is charge) and he made sure that I could go anywhere inside the Synagogue. He even gave me candles to light inside a small room where the ARI used to pray (or speak to an angel). The guy explained me that the statement, the room was used by the Arizal, comes from Jewish Masoret and that there is a whole story with the Baba Sali involved.
I entered the small room while the young Sephardi Haredi was fighting with "the guy in charge" about me (a woman) entering at all. "This is a holy place", the Sepharadi (Israeli and probably SHASS voter :-)))))) started yelling around. I turned around and telling him: "The one who doesn't behave "holy" is you and not me !"
The Haredi went to complain to another Haredi who looked a bit more official but nothing happened. By the way, the "official looking" Haredi later turned out to be another beggar from the outside. How do I know this ? Because he asked me for money.
I really had enough with being yelled and, at the same time, getting ripped off. Well, apparently a woman giving some money is allowed to do anything in that particular Synagogue.:-)
So, I went into the ARI room and lit my candles while the other guys were fighting outside.
Inside the room of the Arizal together with my candles.
The Synagogue from the inside
Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke And a short video I made:
B"H Visiting the famous cemetery in Zfat (Safed) / northern Israel is always a very special event. I was walking around at the cemetery for more than two hours today and took quite a few pictures and filmed a couple of videos.
The first video of the short "Cemetery Series" shows the Kever of Rabbi Yosef Karo (Kabbalist and author of the "Shulchan Aruch").
The grave of Rabbi Yosef Karo.
Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke
Not every grave in the cemetery is painted blue; however, the colour BLUE has special meanings in Judaism as well as in Islam. I once heard that Muslims paint parts of their homes blue because they want to keep away anything evil. In Judaism, the colour BLUE stands for the Glory of G - d but, in addition to that, evil should also remain far away.
I am back in Zfat (Northern Israel) until Wednesday and while I was walking around after my arrival today, I found the door to the famous cave of Shem and Ever open. I was able to take a glimpse inside. The following video came out a bit dark but the photos may provide you a better impression.
Shem used to be the youngest son of Noach (Noah) and Ever was Shem's grandson. Jewish tradition says that the two were studying Torah in this particular cave.
When we say that our ancestors studied Torah although the Torah wasn't then officially given, well, there are different opinions on that concept. They surely didn't study Torah as we do today but it is explained that the ancestors, in particular Avraham, had the principle in mind.
However, I do not yet have the historical knowledge of how and why it was stipulated that this cave used to be Shem and Ever's cave.
There are quite a few locals claiming that the people hanging out at the Kikar (Square) don't enjoy the best reputation. Hippies, Carlebachers or weirdo Breslovers. Americans as well as Israelis.
Tourists, however, like the spot because the buildings around remind us of a Shakespeare scene on stage.:-)
Zfat (Safed) in northern Israel is famous for its medieval Kabbalah history. Rabbi Moshe Alshich, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, Rabbi Yosef Karo and in particular the ARI (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, 1534 - 1572) used to call Zfat their home.
Until today, there are two ARI Synagogues located in the Old City of Zfat. One for the Ashkenazim and another one called "The Sephardi ARI Synagogue". I think the reason is that it is not clear whether the ARI was actually Ashkezani or Sephardi.
The video I took this afternoon was inside the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue and I will be filming the Sephardi counterpart next week !
B"H Another video I took at the beach in Tel Aviv last Thursday afternoon. Enjoy despite the background noise caused by the wind ! Finally the temperatures are going to fall in Israel and, this week, we are going to face an almost severe weather change, as you can see HERE !
The weather in Jerusalem right now: Still warm but cloudy and very windy.
B"H Before today's Tel Aviv got flooded with 40,000 mostly illegal Africans, thousands of legal and illegal Chinese and Romanian workers were living in the city. Whereas the Chinese mostly rented apartments around the Central Bus Station, the Romanians also started populating the beach area around the Opera Tower. They succeeded in turning the entire palce into a slum. Drunk Romanians were staggering around screaming and striptease bars whose door consisted of a dirty woolen blanket opened. Then the Romanians got deported and with them disappeared the bars and the dirt.
Although there are still quite a few drug addicts running around, the area has become clean. Apartment buildings have been renovated and estate prices went up.
I spent the day in Tel Aviv today. After work, I walked around and took photos and made a couple of videos; showing that Tel Aviv is not only "sin city" but also has plenty of positive sides.
B"H One day after Yom Kippur 5773, on September 27, Chabad Rehavia in Jerusalem was celebrating a Hachnasat Sefer Torah. The local Shaliach is Rabbi Israel Goldberg who is also the first person giving at speech in the video. The first part of the video series shows the SI'UM of the Sefer Torah. The adding of the last letters before the new Torah scroll is being taken to the Aron Ha'Kodesh at the Synagogue.
One of the videos I took at the Kotel (Western Wall) Plaza this morning. The crowds stood almost on my feet but, nevertheless, it was great being at the Kotel on Sukkot.
After years of living in Jerusalem, I decided to betray the city by moving to Tel Aviv.:-) In the meantime I returned to the Holy City. It is actually very good to be back in Jerusalem !!!
Nevertheless, I am still writing about Jerusalem but also include many other places in Israel.
Until some years ago, I was a Yeshiva (Michlalah) student. First with the national religious and later with the Litvishe. Also got in contact with Chassidut and this subject and lifestyle has never left me.
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