Near the Kever of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria in Zfat

B"H 

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.

The Kever of Rabbi Yosef Karo in Zfat

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.

Yahrzeit of the ARI: "Photos from the Zfat (Safed) Cemetery"

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I am preparing a few stories about the famous medieval Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, whose Yahrzeit we are commemorating today. Unfortunately I am not in Zfat today but can imagine how busy the cemetery must be today.

Prayer at the women's side of the ARI's grave

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Nevertheless, what has been bothering me throughout the year while visiting the cemetery: A couple of beggars hanging around at the grave of the ARI and going on everyone's nerves. They don't leave you alone unless you either give them a few Shekels or yell at them, as I did.:-)

Here are some photos from the Zfat Cemetery:

http://shearim.blogspot.co.il/2010/09/safed-zfat-cemetery-part-1.html 

http://shearim.blogspot.co.il/2010/09/safed-zfat-cemetery-part-2.html

No cemetery but cheese from Zfat

B"H

This afternoon, I was on my way walking down to the famous cemetery of Zfat (Safed). The sun was burning and it was terribly hot. As ususal, I took plenty of photos while walking through Zfat. 

As I was trying to find my way through all those alleyways in the old city, I ended up in front of the house of one of the two local cheese manufacturer, "Kadosh Cheese". The door was open and I expected finding myself in some kind of a cheese store. I was surprised seeing people sitting at a wooden table and having coffee. The shop was not a shop at all but looked like a bigger kitchen. Customers were welcomed to sit down, have coffee and taste all kinds of cheese and olives. I love fresh cheese and, in the end, bought some French cheese as well as homemade goat cheese. Everything just melting on your tongue. Fresh cheese for Shavuot and I just hope that I can transport everything in a save manner to Jerusalem tomorrow. Without anything melting or making a mess.:-)

Having bought the cheese, I quit going to the cemetery but rather took pictures from far away. I went back to my accomodation in order to put the cheese into the fridge. Of course, I couldn't resist tasting some of the delicious cheese but I still have enough left for sharing it with a friend on Shavuot.

A Camembert

Creamy goat cheese

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Earthquake

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Scientist keep on predicting a disastrous earthquake for near future. A destructive earthquake reaching from Zfat (Safed) in the north of the country down to the entire area at the Dead Sea up to Jerusalem. However, the is nothing new about quakes in Israel and especially Zfat and Tiberias suffered from the a few hundred years ago. Today's inhabitants of Zfat, Tiberias and Beit Shean are used to regular tremors and learn how to act in case an earthquake comes up.

The Old City of Zfat has suffered terrible earthquakes in the past and the result could be that the dead bodies of the ancient cemetery may have been relocated. I am anything but a specialist but there is a danger that the bones from different graves were sliding down the hill during the tremors.

Last night, parts of Israel were facing another "minor" earthquake. The center was in Cyprus but cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheva still felt the tremors. I did too but didn't think of an earthquake but of someone moving something heavy in our building complex.

Some months ago we got an earthquake drill at work. If a quake appears, the savest place would be staying inside a building. Outside things could fall and injure people. Staircases are a good place to hide. I haven't tried it out yet and hope that I won't get into this position.:-) 

Zfat (Safed) and its famous Cemetery

B"H

Usually I am not a cemetery fan at all and, most of my life, I haven't been to too many "Kivrei Zaddikim". However, I like going to the cemetery in the northern Israeli town of Zfat where so many famous Kabbalists and Chassidim are buried.  

Here are some impressions from the fourth Israeli holy city:

Zfat: The old city with the mountains of Meron in the back.

 

Synagogue entrance

Landscape

The Zfat cemetery is full of ancient graves. Some of them are totally unrecognizable and only a few tombstone leftovers show that there once used to be a grave. Nevertheless, there always remains some kind of mystery for me because the cemetery was already used as such by the Canaanites. Who knows who else is buried there ...

Photos: Miriam Woelke

The ARI'S Mikveh and the Zfat Cemetery

The entrance to the Mikveh of the ARIZAL (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, 1534 - 1572).

The Mikveh is located right next to the cemetery.

As a female, I could't go any further.:-)

The famous cemetery in Zfat. Zaddikim as the ARIZAL, Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, Rabbi Yoseph Karo or RAMAK (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero).

What is disturbing and really let me almost freak out:

A few regular Schnorrers are around and hardly leave you alone.



The Haredi (on the left) is standing at the grave of the great Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria.

All photos taken by MIRIAM WOELKE.

Ancient Graves in the Galilee

Part of the ancient cemetery in Zfat (Safed).

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

The fascinating thing in northern Israel is that, anywhere you go, you stumble over ancient graves from Tannaim (Talmudic Rabbis) or other famous Jewish personalities and Rabbis. You walk around in downtown Tiberias and suddenly you see an ancient building with a blue rooftop or a marked cave. This is usually the sign for another ancient famous grave.

The same when you hike in the Meron area or elsewhere in the Galilee. I find it just an amazing !

The SAFED (ZFAT) Cemetery - Part 2

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The grave of the great famous Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, 1534 - 1572, (known as the ARI) at the Safed cemetery (northern Israel).

You can find a Mechitzah at the ARI grave. Men and women pray in different sections. However, the Mechitzah only seems to apply at special events.

The women's side at the back of the ARI's grave.

Women lit memorial candles.

A prayer at the grave of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria.

The grave of the ARI from the men's side (see huge white memorial stone on top of it). Next to him are buried: The Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Cordovero and Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz.

The grave of Rabbi Luria.

Prayer books at the grave of the ARI.

The grave of the ARI's mother underneath her son's grave.

The Safed cemetery doesn't only include "regular" graves as we know them but also plenty of caves where many different Rabbis are buried.

See right top of the photo:

The entire stage is build around the ARI's grave. There are other famous Rabbis next to him but most visitors go to the ARI's grave which is a pity.

 Photos + Copyright:

Miriam Woelke

The SAFED (ZFAT) Cemetery - Part 1

B"H

The 25 - hour - fast day "YOM KIPPUR" is right ahead and many may regard "a cemetery" as an inappropriate subject these days. However, there is a custom of visiting the graves of the Zaddikim (Righteous) before certain holidays or Rosh Chodesh. Yesterday I went to the famous cemetery in Safed (northern Israel) and made some great photos. Therefore I have started a small series with photos from the Safed cemetery.

The entrance to the Safed cemetery: Entrance for women only !

Not everyone is following this ruling.

After passing the entrance, these steps are leading you down to the ancient cemetery of Safed.

Further from the main path: Ancient grave can even be found within the thick thistles.

The gender separation near the grave of the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria 1534 - 1572).

The grave of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria.

 Copyright for all photos !!!

Miriam Woelke