At the grave of the RAMBAM in Tiberias

You cannot miss the grave of the RAMBAM (Maimonides) in downtown Tiberias (northern Israel at the Sea of Galilee). The monument placed above the grave can be seen from anywhere  down at the lake.

Underneath the monument, you can find the Kever of the RAMBAM (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 1135 - 1204).

Not at the grave but placed on the wall of a house in the area: A portrait of the RAMBAM.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

HERE and HERE are further pictures ! 


Why the RAMBAM was buried in Tiberias

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2010/10/bh-in-1204-rambam-maimonides-died-in.html

Photos from the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret)

At the promenade in Tiberias. The monument is built in the shape of the Kinneret and also shows the sea level. Israel has been facing a severe water problem for the past couple of years, as there is not enough rain during the winter periods.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Quiet times and Arab violence

B"H

Politics, worldly affairs, business and all kinds of stress ... these are issues Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have to deal with but not northern Israel. Everything goes slower in the northern regions and people have their own issues and problems. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are far away. There are times when they seem to be as far away as another planet. 

However, the Galilee cannot escape all worldly affairs. Plenty of Palestinians have settled in the area and a bit more than a year ago, Zfat was facing a severe problem: The local small university has a high amount of Arab students and it was them causing trouble downtown. Yelling at Jews and driving the nearby Chabad Yeshiva nuts with loud music on Shabbat. Furthermore, many young Arabs run after Jewish girls and try getting them into an intermarriage. Those Arabs even succeed in convincing haredi girls marrying them. This is a huge problem all over Israel. 

Jewish teenage girls from poor families like the expensive gifts Arab boys make them. The girls tell themselves that this particular Arab guy running after her is nice and not a suicide bomber. He must be nice when he is giving her presents and taking her out to expensive restaurants. Once the girls run away with the Arab boyfriend, their families kick them out. Thus the girls end up in the nearby Arab villages and then hell begins. The formerly nice boyfriend turns out to be a molester beating his Jewish wife. 

Not every Arab marrying a Jew girl ends up beating her but there are plenty of stories going around. For instance, Nazareth, a town divided between Arabs and Jews, has been facing an extremely high amount of intermarriage between Jews and Muslims. It is mostly Arab guys marrying Jewish women and not vice versa. 

The second problem the Galilee is facing is the high amount of unemployed inhabitants. There is no real infrastructure and factories or other businesses like to settle at the coast and not in Tiberias, Zfat or Beit Shean. If enterpreneurs decide opening a company in the north, then it will be mainly Haifa but not the Upper Galilee. 

Tiberias and Zfat live from tourism. The latter rather from Jewish tourists who come for a visit searching for the remains of the medieval Kabbalists and any kind of spirituality. There isn't too much to do for Gentiles except for walking through the alleyways of the Old City, enjoying the great view and passing the art galleries. 

Nevertheless, Zfat is worth a visit and if you are in Tiberias and have some time, take the VEOLIA bus no. 450 from the Central Bus Station. Zfat is about 30km far away on a mountain top overlooking the Kinneret. The ride is inexpensive (15,50 Shekels one way / approx. 3,5 $). Get off at the final stop - the Central Bus Station in Zfat and you are already in the Old City. 

The yellow press doesn't mention it: The MADONNA - House in Zfat. The "Kabbalah - Lady" wanted to build her own villa in Zfat. Madonna together with the Kabbalah Center. The Zfat inhabitants went wild and Madonna gave up. Until today you can see the former construction site but the house has never been finished.  

Downtown Zfat

Tourismus & Art = The two most important industries in Zfat.

There is definitely no lack of art galleries in town.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Tiberias & Zfat in Northern Israel

B"H

From Jerusalem to northern Israel. I am having a brief vacation before Shavuot comes up this Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night after Shabbat). Right after the holiday, I am facing a doctor's appointment, as my meniscus broke apart. I can walk but sometimes it is really painful. However, back in Zfat I am trying to think about something spiritual and not necessarily about the injections and the treatment waiting for me next week. 

After not having been up north for more than a year I can surely say that nothing has really changed. Tiberias at the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) as well as Zfat are the same and the relaxed Galilee atmosphere rules. People in the north are a bit slow but not everyone has to run all the time as people in Tel Aviv.:-)

Tiberias now has a new Mac Donald's branch at its Central Busstation. The branch is kosher but extremely expensive. So, watch out in case you go there. 

What I also noticed is that Afula and Tiberias are becoming more haredi. The Vishnitzer Chassidim built their own neighbourhood in Afula and Tiberias with its famous graves of Zaddikim (Rambam, Rabbi Me'ir Ba'al HaNess, Rabbi Akivah, etc.) has a higher haredi concentration anyway.

Here are a few photos of the romantic landscape:

Hills around Tiberias

The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) this afternoon. In the background you can see the Golan Heights and behind them we find Syria.

Landscape between Tiberias and Zfat

 

Before entering Zfat. Today the town has become very popular among new immigrants (Olim) from the US. Relatively affordable rents and costs of living. Religious Jews like to move to the old and famous kabbalistic town of Zfat. However, the town is facing a severe problem: An extremely high amount of unemployed inhabitants. If you are planning on moving to Zfat, please take into consideration that the town can hardly offer any jobs !

Around Zfat

View to Meron

The tiny Zfat mall: Rehov Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Street.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Back in Zfat

B"H

After more than a year, I am back in Zfat (Safed). Visiting until the end of the week before returning to Jerusalem on Friday morning. As usual, I am staying at the Chabad Hostel ASCENT. Although more open minded, there are certain ideologies which really go on my nerves. Especially when it comes to me living in Tel Aviv until the end of last week. A Tel Aviv citizen is immediately referred to as totally secular. He has no idea about Judaism let alone praying "Bircat HaMazon". 

I love ASCENT but sometimes I have to explain myself too many times when it comes to me knowing a bit about the Jewish religion.:-) People see me wearing jeans and ask if I know that Shavuot is coming up after Shabbat. There are times when I laugh about dealing with prejudices but there are other days when I am tired of hearing them.:-) 

Downtown Zfat this afternoon

View to Meron

ASCENT in Zfat

The famous KOSSOV Synagogue 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Mark Zuckerberg’s Intermarriage

B"H 

For those among you who don’t know yet: These days, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg married Priscilla Chan. The sad fact behind the story is that Chinese – American Priscilla Chan is NOT Jewish. With Zuckerberg marrying a Schickse, another Jewish generation is being lost. 

Unfortunately, Zuckerberg is not alone, as Intermarriage is very common among Diaspora Jews. Throughout the year and centuries, countless Jewish generations have been lost because various Jews couldn’t keep their shorts together. Although Intermarriage is also a topic in Israel, most Israeli youth support marrying a Jew. 

Mark Zuckerberg is not a positive example for American Jewry and his Jewish line is going to end with him. 

Link:

Jewish and Gentile souls do not go together

Beyond Yom Yerushalayim

B"H

Some photos from the side:

Blocking the road for the traffic so that the Jerusalem - Day parade could take place.

Lots of policemen (picture above) and border police soldiers (picture below) were taking care of the parade's security.

A Chassid watching the "Zionist" parade

And some Chabad Meshichistim putting on Tefillin further down in Ben Yehudah Street.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Photos from today's YOM YERUSHALAYIM

B"H  

Jerusalem was celebrating its 45th anniversary of kicking out the Jordanians today. Until the Six - Day - War in June 1967, the city was divided among Israelis and Jordanians. Palestinians didn't exist then but they rather preferred being called ARABS. A historical fact the Arab world and all those liberal Western world leftists don't seem to remember: "Palestinians are a new invention and not 1000 years old !"

The Six - Day - War began when Arab countries were attacking Israel. The Jewish state won the war although there had been hardly any chances of succeeding over the Arab majority. Once I listened to a lecture of Rabbi Me'ir Kahane's brother and he claimed that it was more G - d helping the Jews then their weapons. 

YOM YERUSHALAYIM - Jerusalem Day stands for freedom and a united Jerusalem. It is sad that most secular Jews don't remember the importance of this day in June. Haredim usually don't participate in the celebrations, as most of them have a distant relationship to the present State of Israel. A state which is secular and officially without Torah but a worldy constitution and courts. However, the Zionist national religious youth loves to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim. From everywhere in the country they keep on streaming to Jerusalem in order to participate in the MARCH OF THE FLAGS from downtown to the Kotel (Western Wall). 

Theodore Herzl wanted a secular state for the Jews. Without Torah and the German language instead of Hebrew. Unfortunately most secular Zionists remember Herzl and not another Zionist who actually wanted a religious Jewish State: The famous "Ahad Ha’am".

Nevertheless, the MARCH OF THE FLAGS was the only event I have noticed. A kind of sad, as the day is very important in Jewish history. On the other hand, not even all national religious youngsters participated in the march but walked around downtown. Shops, fast food branches, cafes and ice - cream stands earned a fortune today. 

Here are some photos from today and many more will follow:

The parade is, more or less, religious, and a Mechitzah (gender separation) does exist. Although, not as strict as in haredi society let alone Toldot Aharon. The above picture shows the national religious girls celebrating in King George Street.

The girls in the yellow shirts were in charge of the security.

 The guys were gathering a few hundred meters further in front of Jerusalem's Great Synagogue.

 

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Mea Shearim against the InterCHET

Kikar Davidka / Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

It had been a year since I last visited some of my Mea Shearim friends. Too long and, in a way, I was glad to be back at the Batei Ungarin last night. The "Batei Ungarin - Hungarian Houses" are one of the backyards in this ultra - Orthodox neighbourhood in Jerusalem. It was great seeing all the Streimeles after living in Tel Aviv for a longer period of time. Schabbes atmosphere and probably hundreds of kids playing outside until their fathers were returning from "Kabbalat Shabbat" at the Synagogues. Then Kiddush is being made and the food comes out.

My friends (whose chassidic group I rather don't mention) were happy to see me back and so was I. The backyard mostly consists of Satmar, Neturei Karta, Toldot Aharon, Toldot Aharon Yitzchak and similar inhabitants. My friends had most of their children and grandchildren over for Shabbat and it was crowded. Men and women sitting separately in two different rooms. This procedure is always being carried out as soon as there are strangers in the house. When the family is alone, they all sit together without any gender separation. 

And, as expected, one of the subjects last night was the Internet. In fact, my friends call it the "InterCHET". CHET in Hebrew means SIN or ONE MISSED THE GOAL (meaning he acted against the Torah or Halacha). I was told that Mea Shearim is having another gathering against the Internet use. 

Of course, we had this huge discussion and almost the entire family spoke against the WWW. I said that not everything on the net is bad and one of the daughters actually works in an office with secular Jews. She has Internet access and we both stressed that there are many good things about the Internet. 

However, this didn't help and my friends simply didn't see any use for such an invention. Men would just get negative ideas and no one needed the Internet in the past. Why now and for what ?

Each of us stuck to his position and Mea Shearim will keep on fighting all those iPhones, Androids and WWW connections in order to protect its youth.

Religion at the Machane Yehudah Market (Jerusalem)

Chabad Tefillin at the Machane Yehudah Market

Na Nach Breslover at the Machane Yehudah Market.

Chabad Meshichistim

Entrance to the Machane Yehudah Market

And again: Chabad

Photos: Miriam Woelke