Sunday, July 10, 2011

Tzfat is a beautiful city with a rich history of religion and of art. We visited the Ashkenazi Ha’Ari synagogue that, although plagued by earthquakes, artillery fire, and other disasters, has managed to be rebuilt and remains strong today. The synagogue is a house of worship for those who reside in Tzfat, but also serves as a symbol of how strong Judaism and belief is there. The synagogue was full of stories and mysteries, including that an earthquake that caused the entire building to fall down except for the wall with the Holy Ark. The stories include how a man bowed to pray, just missing an artillery shot that fired over his head, and we got to see the bullet hole that miraculously did not injure anyone. We learned of the picture of a lion with a humanoid face painted on the Ark and the questions surrounding it.
Tzfat is also home to a great number of artists. We started with the studio of David Friedman, an artist who, originally from the United States, made aliyah to Israel because of a strong calling. He combined his love and talent for art with his passion for learning Kabbalah, and we were able to experience his beautiful paintings and even more beautiful explanations of their meanings. Many of us bought prints and greeting cards displaying his work. We then walked through the stone streets of the beautiful city, taking in the historical buildings, the city life, and the work of the artists who reside in Tzfat.