The Rashbi Pizza in Zfat.
Photo: Miriam Woelke
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Photos from the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue in Zfat
B"H
After publishing a short video from the inside of the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue in Zfat, here are also a few photos.
After publishing a short video from the inside of the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue in Zfat, here are also a few photos.
The Sefirot
The Synagogue from the outside. Someone asked if the Mezuza is still missing. The truth is that I didn't pay attention when I walked in and my photos don't really show anything. Nevertheless, I will go again next week and check out whether there is a Mezuza.
The Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue from the inside.
As a matter of fact, almost every famous Synagogue in the old city of Zfat has a guard sitting at the entrance. Usually an elderly Chassid who is watching the guests. It is up to him who can come in. However, when leaving, he expects a donation.
I gave quite a donation to the ARI Synagogue and when I went further down to the Abuhav Synagogue a little later, the same old Chassid was sitting there then. I admit that I didn't want to give another high amount of money and decided not to go inside the Abuhav Synagogue this time but next week.
I recommend you to arrange some Shekel coins in advance. I forgot doing so and after donating once, I didn't feel like handing out any further bills.:-)
The outer yard.
Photos: Miriam Woelke
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Chabad Meshichistim in Zfat
The Chabad Yeshiva in HaAri Street in Zfat / northern Israel. Here, all students believe that the last Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson is the Meshiach but I have no idea what exactly the plane is supposed to mean.:-)
Photos: Miriam Woelke
Kikar Hameginim in Zfat (Safed)
B"H
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.:-)
The Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue in Zfat
B"H
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 !
Sunset in Zfat
The sun going down over Meron.
View from Zfat.
Photo: Miriam Woelke
B"H
I have had some really interesting conversations with people from Zfat. American as well as Israeli. About the job situation in town and how people manage to survive. However, those two days up here weren't enough and I will be back for another two days next week. I have already reserved the same private room with Chabad.
In addition to that, after all this walking around, I haven't found the time for the cemetery which will be on top of my agenda next week. Nevertheless, I took lots of photos. The old city as well as the poorer part of town: The southern part of Zfat where apartments are cheap but many places are run down. Areas where tourists usually don't go.
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Koznitzer Maggid is revealing the secret of leading a long life
The Koznitzer Maggid
B"H
The Maggid of Koznitz / Poland (Rabbi Israel Hopsztajn (1737 – 1814) used to be extremely sick as a child. In fact, no one expected him to live until he was an adult and most of his life he spent in bed. However, he lived to an advanced age despite all medical predictions.
The Maggid once revealed the secret of him staying alive despite his severe illness:
"I never allow myself to be without a task to perform, he said. People are taken from this world only when their missions here are completed. Whenever I was just about to finish one task, I would start another one; hence, I could not be removed from this world if my task was not completed".
Some people think that we need relaxation and rest but the opposite seems to be the case. In reality we need to use our muscles in order to strengthen them. The same applies to a person: We constantly need to achieve goals; if not we may fall into depression and apathy.
__________________________
Source:
"Growing Each Day" by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
Tiberias' unromatic side
B"H
The small town of Tiberias located in the Lower Galilee and right at the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is one of the four holy cities in Israel. The other three are Hebron, Jerusalem and Zfat (Safed).
Tiberias mainly lives from tourism and the majority of inhabitants consists of Moroccan Jews who came here in the 1950ies. The town is secular but more and more Haredim keep on moving up north due to lower rents. Chassidut Karlin - Stolin has been building up its own community. Furthermore, the bought the building where Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk used to live after moving to Tiberias. There are plenty of famous graves such as the one of the Rambam, the Ramchal, Rabbi Akivah, the grave of Rachel (Rabbi Akivah's wife which is supposed to be a fake). Rabbi Me'ir Ba'al HaNess is buried in Tiberias as well as further famous Zaddikim.
Today Tiberias is a rather poor town. Not much to do and the job situation is pretty bad. Many people are on the dole and some neighbourhoods are populated by poor Russian immigrants.
Here are a few pictures of the non - romantic side of Tiberias:
The small town of Tiberias located in the Lower Galilee and right at the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is one of the four holy cities in Israel. The other three are Hebron, Jerusalem and Zfat (Safed).
Tiberias mainly lives from tourism and the majority of inhabitants consists of Moroccan Jews who came here in the 1950ies. The town is secular but more and more Haredim keep on moving up north due to lower rents. Chassidut Karlin - Stolin has been building up its own community. Furthermore, the bought the building where Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk used to live after moving to Tiberias. There are plenty of famous graves such as the one of the Rambam, the Ramchal, Rabbi Akivah, the grave of Rachel (Rabbi Akivah's wife which is supposed to be a fake). Rabbi Me'ir Ba'al HaNess is buried in Tiberias as well as further famous Zaddikim.
Today Tiberias is a rather poor town. Not much to do and the job situation is pretty bad. Many people are on the dole and some neighbourhoods are populated by poor Russian immigrants.
Here are a few pictures of the non - romantic side of Tiberias:
Going from street to street in Tiberias demands you to be sportive. The lowest part is the Kinneret but then you need to climb up the hill which isn't easy in the tropical summer heat.
Photos: Miriam Woelke
I may be wrong but, as far as I know, there only exists a small English - speaking community in Tiberias. If you are from places like New York, LA, Miami, Melbourne, Jo - burg, Toronto, London or Paris, and you are considering making Aliyah up north, please take into consideration that places like Tiberias, Afulah, Carmiel, Kiryat Shemonah or the Golan Heights demand fluent Hebrew. In some places up north (except for Zfat) you may be easily lost if you only speak English and no Hebrew. Furthermore, don't forget that shops close during the afternoon hours and that life is basically village - like.
Why was THE KUZARI written in Arabic ?
B"H
"Sefer Ha'Kuzari - The Kuzari" is playing a tremendous role in most Israeli Yeshivot. Besides Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzattos (Ramchal's) "Path of the Just" it is being taught almost everywhere. As well as in national religious as in haredi Yeshivot.
The great Spanish Rabbi and Philosopher Yehudah HaLevi (born approx. 1075, was murdered by an Arab near Jerusalem in 1141) actually wrote THE KUZARI in Arabic and not in Hebrew or Spanish. A few years later, the famous translator Yehudah ibn Tivon translated the book into Hebrew. His translation is known to be a very literal translation without any personal remarks or interpretation as we see in other translations.
Nevertheless, why did Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi wrote his book in Arabic and not in Spanish or any other more common European language ? Most Jews in medieval Europe didn't know any Arabic.
Rabbi Chaim Eisen from Jerusalem provided the answer to my question: For many years, medieval Spain had been occupied by Muslims and therefore, the official language of Spain was Arabic and not necessarily Spanish. However, Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi wasn't the only one publishing a book in Arabic. Almost 200 years later, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (theRAMBAM, 1135 – 1204) wrote his famous MOREH NEVUCHIM (Guide for the Perplexed) in Arabic. Please note that both Rabbis quoted Gemara texts in Hebrew and not in Arabic.
THE KUZARI mainly dealt with questions the King of the Khazars had. He pointed his questions to a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian and to a philosopher in order to find out the true religion / ideology. In the end, the Jew convinced the King that only Judaism is the true religion and the Khazars converted to Judaism. An apparently historical fact although Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi probably made up the conversation between the King and the others in order to discuss the purpose Judaism in this world.
In those days, Spanish Jewry seemed to get very much involved in Greek and Arabic philosophy and in order to prevent Jews from going astray, Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi presented a discussion between the King, a Jew and further religions and the philosopher in order to show where the latter are wrong and Judaism is right. The Jew, however, didn't just make a few claims but presented proof the King couldn't ignore.
As a matter of fact, later on, the Rambam again approached the Jews in his MOREH NEVUCHIM trying to break apart the arguments of Greek philosophy. Especially Aristotle's ideas but, on the other hand, the Rambam also agreed to some of Aristotle's statements or, at least, he was extremely familiar with his philosophy.
THE KUZARI was written for Spanish Jewry in order to teach them the beauty and basics of Judaism. Nevertheless, it would be great if someone, maybe a well - learned Rabbi could write a book or essays on "How Greek and other philosophies actually did find their way into Jewish thought. At least up to a certain extend". This would be a great subject. Actually I know one chassidic Rabbi writing about this particular subject but I am not sure whether he is able to continue due to health problems.
"Sefer Ha'Kuzari - The Kuzari" is playing a tremendous role in most Israeli Yeshivot. Besides Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzattos (Ramchal's) "Path of the Just" it is being taught almost everywhere. As well as in national religious as in haredi Yeshivot.
The great Spanish Rabbi and Philosopher Yehudah HaLevi (born approx. 1075, was murdered by an Arab near Jerusalem in 1141) actually wrote THE KUZARI in Arabic and not in Hebrew or Spanish. A few years later, the famous translator Yehudah ibn Tivon translated the book into Hebrew. His translation is known to be a very literal translation without any personal remarks or interpretation as we see in other translations.
My KUZARI edition translated by Ibn Tivon
Photo: Miriam Woelke
Nevertheless, why did Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi wrote his book in Arabic and not in Spanish or any other more common European language ? Most Jews in medieval Europe didn't know any Arabic.
Rabbi Chaim Eisen from Jerusalem provided the answer to my question: For many years, medieval Spain had been occupied by Muslims and therefore, the official language of Spain was Arabic and not necessarily Spanish. However, Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi wasn't the only one publishing a book in Arabic. Almost 200 years later, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (theRAMBAM, 1135 – 1204) wrote his famous MOREH NEVUCHIM (Guide for the Perplexed) in Arabic. Please note that both Rabbis quoted Gemara texts in Hebrew and not in Arabic.
THE KUZARI mainly dealt with questions the King of the Khazars had. He pointed his questions to a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian and to a philosopher in order to find out the true religion / ideology. In the end, the Jew convinced the King that only Judaism is the true religion and the Khazars converted to Judaism. An apparently historical fact although Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi probably made up the conversation between the King and the others in order to discuss the purpose Judaism in this world.
In those days, Spanish Jewry seemed to get very much involved in Greek and Arabic philosophy and in order to prevent Jews from going astray, Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi presented a discussion between the King, a Jew and further religions and the philosopher in order to show where the latter are wrong and Judaism is right. The Jew, however, didn't just make a few claims but presented proof the King couldn't ignore.
As a matter of fact, later on, the Rambam again approached the Jews in his MOREH NEVUCHIM trying to break apart the arguments of Greek philosophy. Especially Aristotle's ideas but, on the other hand, the Rambam also agreed to some of Aristotle's statements or, at least, he was extremely familiar with his philosophy.
THE KUZARI was written for Spanish Jewry in order to teach them the beauty and basics of Judaism. Nevertheless, it would be great if someone, maybe a well - learned Rabbi could write a book or essays on "How Greek and other philosophies actually did find their way into Jewish thought. At least up to a certain extend". This would be a great subject. Actually I know one chassidic Rabbi writing about this particular subject but I am not sure whether he is able to continue due to health problems.
Q & A with Rabbi Chaim Eisen (Jerusalem)
B"H
I have known Rabbi Chaim Eisen for quite a while. Participating in one of his weekly classes at Jerusalem's Orthodox Union (Israel Center) I can say that he has a great knowledge. Especially when it comes to THE KUZARI, Gemara, the RAMBAN as well as the RAMBAN.
Not too long ago, he introduced his free - of - charge online classes and I signed up for THE KUZARI, Ramban and Rambam. My favourite subjects and I like listening to Rabbis who have a vast knowledge on these kind of topics. However, Rabbi Eisen also answers all kinds of questions. No matter whether from Jews or non - Jews. Here is a great example:
I have known Rabbi Chaim Eisen for quite a while. Participating in one of his weekly classes at Jerusalem's Orthodox Union (Israel Center) I can say that he has a great knowledge. Especially when it comes to THE KUZARI, Gemara, the RAMBAN as well as the RAMBAN.
Not too long ago, he introduced his free - of - charge online classes and I signed up for THE KUZARI, Ramban and Rambam. My favourite subjects and I like listening to Rabbis who have a vast knowledge on these kind of topics. However, Rabbi Eisen also answers all kinds of questions. No matter whether from Jews or non - Jews. Here is a great example:
Onion Bread from Bialystok
B"H
Mimi's ISRAELI KITCHEN is offering an interesting recipe from the Old World:
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