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Published: November 30th -0001
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Lookout
The hills of Tzfat שלום
Shalom!
I decided I better update this thing or what's the point of having it.
Finally the high holidays are over - and now I am down to the last week of freedom before classes begin on the 11th.
Experiencing the holidays here has been one amazing experience. Most of the holidays I spent with friend's families and what not, but for Yom Kippur I decided to travel to Tzfat with my good buddy Tzvi Darling.
Now Tzfat was the one town that I fell in love with the first time I came to Israel almost three years ago. If I ever spoke highly of a town - Tzfat was uttered from my lips. Finally I had the chance to return, but not just for a visit, but to experience Yom Kippur. Tzfat is one of the four holy cities in Israel - its element is that of AIR (Wisdom).
Tzvi and I stayed at a heritage house (hostel) called Ascent which is perfectly located in the town with a beautiful view of the hills rolling west towards the sea.
When we arrived the first thing on our agenda was to find something to eat -
so we walked the ancients streets and found a small cafe with great view and order chips (fries), pita and Israeli salad. I love to eat! It was a nice rest from our long travel for we had to travel by train and bus to reach the city.
Then after lunch we decided to walk down to the Ari Mikvah that is located within the side of the mountain. The Ari Mikvah is fed by pure underground spring water. Taking a plunge into its cold water takes you back into the mystical and ritual tradition of the place. We're talking about the 1500's or so when during the golden age of Kabbalah.
The history of Ari's Mikvah goes something like this: Rabbi Isaac Luria ben Shlomo (aka Ari) was the greatest figure of Tzfat's golden age of Kabbalah. Upon his deathbed he instructed his students that once he has passed, they are to take his body to the spring and he would conduct the final washing himself. It was during these events of preparing for his burial his students took his body to the Mikvah and placed him in and then he rose and conducted the final immersion
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Street view from the Hostel himself. (Well at least to my understanding this is how it went). I found it fascinating none the less.
So after the mikvah we walked back up to Ascent to rest before dinner. This was a super shabbat for Yom Kippur fell on it, so we had a feast and ate till our stomachs were about to explode. Then around 5:30, Yom Kippur was in place and the praying started. We fasted for the next 26 hours and ended it with another feast! Once again, I love food! This was an unbelievable experience fasting, praying and being is such a beautiful place. It by far was the most peaceful fast I've ever encountered.
Tzvi left Saturday night and I ended up staying in Tzfat until Tuesday. I met so many interesting people in that town, took a few classes dealing with Kabbalah and even volunteered at a hotel, helping them get ready for Sukkot. I met five young ladies who were studying in a yeshiva in Jerusalem. One of them was from Denver - its always a pleasure meeting fellow Coloradoans.
Somehow I ended up going to an Amuka with these five ladies. At first I had no
Tzfat hiking crew
These are some of the ladies I met up in Tzfat.
From right to left: Hoops, Mackenzie, Talia and Rucheli. clue what an Amuka was . . . then as the stories started to reveal its meaning I realized I was stuck in taxi with no way out, ha.
The Amuka is the burial site of the famous Talmudic sage Rabbi Yonathan Ben Uziel - that doesn't sound so bad right? It more than just a his place of burial, its where you go to pray for a wife or husband. It was an interesting experience - since I wasn't planning on being there -but I figured that I was there for a reason-so I prayed and did whatever other rituals I thought necessary and then left.
I was considering staying in Tzfat through Sukkot (the following holiday) but during the process of cleaning the basement of the old hotel I became sick - really sick - must of been all the dust I was breathing in.
I must say, it sucks being sick during the holidays - especially since places close early and access is limited when it comes to travel. I was in bed for about a week until I had enough strength to adventure out.
I almost missed Sukkot but thankfully the campus
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The old city of Tzfat rabbi Shaye Gerlitzky at Tel Aviv University took me to his fathers house for a little Farbrengen (which means: "joyous gathering") His father is the head rabbi in Tel Aviv - everyone ate and said plenty of L'Chiams. The police arrived on two separate occasions, but instead of writing a ticket or even a warning - the police man each time said a few L'chiams with the rabbi's, ate some food and went on their way.
Well until next time - which should be sooner than later
שלום
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