Category: Uncategorized (4)

All About Tzfat

Nov 15, 2017

Safed is a city nestled in the Upper Galilee of Northern Israel located approximately 45 minutes from Tiberias. The city perches on a mountaintop and enjoys mild weather in the summer and a cold rainy climate in the winter. Tzfat is known as the “City of Kabbalah,” one of Judaism’s four Holy Cities, due to its history as the region where contemporary Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, developed. Today Tzfat is enjoying a revival as a center of Jewish and Kabbalah study, a hub of quality art and Judaica and a meeting place for people of different cultures and backgrounds who are drawn to this historic mountaintop town.

History

Artifacts have been found that indicate that people lived in Safed as far back as 3500 years ago, but archaeological and documentary evidence of the community begins at the time of the Crusader period. The Crusaders built their “Metzuda”, or citadel, on the Tzfat mountaintop. The presence of an existing Jewish community in Tzfat drew Jews to the area in the Middle Ages as they fled the Spanish Inquisition. By the late 1700s, Ashkanazi, or Eastern European Jews began to immigrate to Tzfat. This created two distinct Jewish community, the Ashkanazis and the Sepharadim (Mediterranean and North African Jews). The Arab community also grew, occupying a neighborhood a few minutes’ walk from the Jewish Quarter.

 

Spelling Spelling

Oct 03, 2015

The origins of the name “Tzfat” are unknown but may refer to either of two Hebrew verbs which are similar to “Tzfat” — “L’tz-a-pot”, meaning “to anticipate” or “L’tz-pot” meaning “to look out.” Tzfat has many different spellings which derive from the Arabic, Sephardic Hebrew and Ashkanazi Hebrew pronunciations.

Common spellings of Tzfat include Tzfat, Tsfat, Tzfas, Tsfas, Safed, Zefad, Zfat, Zefat, Zefas, Zfas, Zfad and more.

Places to Visit

Oct 02, 2015

The streets of Tzfat are full almost year-round with visitors who come to experience various aspects of Tzfat. Travelers can view the tourist sites of Tzfat including the ancient synagogues, the art galleries, the ruins and modern centers indicating the town’s renaissance. Centers exist where people can stop in for a quick class in Torah or Kabbalah, learn about the ancient art of working as a Hebrew scribe, make their own pottery piece or listen to an artist’s life story.

Old City Safed

Oct 01, 2015

The Old City of Tzfat is a unique neighborhood with a deep history and a diverse population. New residents will find that purchasing property in the Old Jewish Quarter brings challenges that are not faced by real estate deals in other parts of the world.

History

The modern Jewish settlement of Tzfat dates back to the 16th century when many Jews, fleeing the Inquisition and Exile of Spain and Portugal, joined the existing Jewish community in Tzfat. They built their homes along the mountain slope above the ancient cemetery. These homes were buried twice during earthquakes, in 1759 and again in 1837. Survivors build new homes on the still-standing ruins of these old homes.

Tabu

The families that owned property in Tzfat held “tabu” under Ottoman and subsequent British law. This indicated that the family owned the property. When the Jewish National Fund (JNF) began to purchase property in Palestine in 1901 they then leased these properties to the new owners, including kibbutzim and home owners. Until today, there are only a few areas in Israel where land ownership is still registered by tabu, including the Old City of Tzfat. All other land and real estate purchases are conducted through 99-year renewable leases, as established by the JNF.

For people who wish to buy property in Tzfat, the laws of tabu mean that they must somehow trace the original owners of a property in order to purchase it. Ownership of many properties is legally held by dozens, if not hundreds, of descendants of the original owner. Many new owners do succeed in tracking down the legal owners of properties in the Old Jewish Quarter and others are able to complete a purchase through a real estate agent.