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Information about Zfat from the net:
For a long
time, Zfat has been a well kept secret, even to most Israelis.
However, according to the great mystics of the past, Zfat is
to play an important role in the final redemption. The Meam
Loez, in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, says that the
Moshiach (The Messiah) will come from Zfat on his way to Jerusalem.
The Ari HaKodesh says that until the Third Beit HaMikdosh is
built, the Shechinah (God's Manifest Presence) rests above Zfat.
Her past is
also rich and great. According to legend, Zfat is where Shem
and Ever, son and grandson of Noah, established their yeshiva
where Yaakov Avinu studied for many years. According to other
sources, the town was founded in 70AD. The city flourished in
the 16th century, when many famous Jewish religious scholars
and mystics moved to Zfat from Europe, fleeing from the horrors
of the Inquisition. Zfat then became the spiritual center of
the Jewish world, where Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) reached
the peak of its influence. Kabbalists, such as Rabbi Yitzhak
Luria (Ha-Ari HaKadosh) and Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz (author of
Lecha Dodi) and Rabbi Yosef Karo (author of the Shulchan Aruch)
just to name a few, made the city famous. It was here that the
first printing press in the entire continent of Asia was installed,
publishing in 1578 the first Hebrew book to be printed in Israel.
At that time the town was a big trade center as well as a religious
one. However, Zzfat suffered horribly during the ensuing years
due to earthquakes, plagues and Arab attacks. In modern times,
the liberation of Zfat was one of the most dramatic events of
the 1948 War of Independence.
Zfat is one
of the four holy cities in the Land of Israel, the other holy
cities are: Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias. The old part of
town consists of narrow twisted streets revealing artists' galleries,
medieval synagogues, private homes and small guests houses.
Despite her small size and low number of inhabitants (ca 27,000),
Zfat is once again making her mark on the map.
Thousands of
Russian and Ethiopian immigrants have made Zfat their home in
the past decade. Zfat has also been welcoming home many baalei
teshuva to its small but vibrant community. This is not a coincidence.
By definition, these are people who made the effort to connect
to their Jewish soul and heritage and Zfat is definitely a town
with a Jewish soul. These new immigrants are more than happy
to welcome those who come from far away, physically or spiritually.
Furthermore,
the conditions in Zfat are ideal for immersion in Torah study.
Excellent Torah classes are available for whoever seeks to learn,
in either Hebrew or English, especially for those new to the
path of yiddishkeit. There are very few distractions, relations
between religious and non-religious are good and it is the rare
car that will drive down the street on Shabbat, simply out of
respect. The famous holy mountain air is conducive to clear
thinking and excellent meditation. The nearby forest and nature
reserve provide the seclusion and serenity needed for powerful
communion with God. The holiness of the land and air is in part
attributed to the fact that so many Tzaddikim (righteous holy
people) are buried around here. Afterall, as our sages are quick
to point out, a Tzaddik never dies. These graves tend to be
located in some of the most scenic locations in the Land of
Israel and most are easily accessible by foot or car. Many have
been transformed into houses of prayer. For the more adventurous,
a number of famous gravesites are found as one explores our
nature reserve anywhere in the north. For example, just a half
hour's walk from Zfat's Old City, depending on the time of year
and amount of rainfall, you can encounter a virtual paradise,
resplendent with fruit trees, waterpools and olive groves.
Despite her
natural beauty and charm, to truly appreciate Zfat requires
an intimate, holy and Jewish connection, which requires work.
Like a beautiful yet modest woman, her real charm is hidden
and only made available to the special few who merit her attention.
Yet it is this modesty, humility and sense of purpose that makes
Zfat special.
A true Jewish
experience, Zfat is the balance where the spiritual meets the
physical, where the East meets the West, where Hashem guides
you along the path but your efforts allow you to merit the reward.
Everyone is invited to experience and appreciate the challenge.
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