Tsfad: Birthplace of Kabbalah

Tsfad is now the highest city in all of Israel, even higher than Jerusalem. In the Upper Galilee with beautiful views all around, it's suggested that Jesus motioned to Tsfad when he talked about a city on a hill in His Sermon on the Mount.

It's also one of the 4 holiest cities in Israel, along with Hebron, Jerusalem, and Tiberias. However, Tsfad stands out from the other 3 as the birthplace of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism. There's a large arts community there, as well as cool history. 

I didn't get to spend a lot of time in Tsfad, so I definitely want to go back, and especially see more of the arts community there. But walking and driving through the old town, it was awesome to see the beautiful art in the actual city, like this:

Though I was in sandals, it was pretty cool the day I was there, as it was officially winter. And the sun was about to set, which made walking through the city even more beautiful.

(There are bullet holes in the sides of this building, as it was a shelter during the 1948 War of Independence, due to its thick walls and small windows).

This British clock tower is from 1948, and formed the line between the Jewish and Arab communities. Women from both communities would come here to talk with each other.

(The taller mountain in the distance is Mount Meron, the 2nd highest mountain in Israel. There's a tomb for an important rabbi in Kabbalah there. This is where 45 people were crushed by the crowd in April 2021).

Erev tov!