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!

Rosh Pinna: Cornerstone

Rosh Pinna, literally translated into "Cornerstone", is one of the oldest Zionist settlements in Israel. Originally established by local Jews in 1878, it was abandoned until a group of Romanian Jews settled it in 1883 and named it for the first in Psalms 118:23: "The stones the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." 

With a population of just over 3,000, it looks out over the Sea of Galilee and connects to Tsfad, the highest city in all of Israel.

Not long after it was settled by the 30 Jewish Romanian families, it came under the patronage of Baron Edmond James de Rothschild. He commissioned some beautiful, landscaped gardens that are open to the public to enjoy in this beautiful place.

In Rosh Pinna, there isn't a ton to see, but it's a beautiful town, and the Baron's garden is definitely worth seeing. I also got to walk through the 'old town', which is so cool. You can see original buildings like the synagogue, the administrative offices, and more. There's an arts community there, which is always fun to explore.

My favorite part was going to Nimrod's Lookout, a memorial view point dedicated to Nimrod Segev, a young man who died in the Second Lebanese War. The observation terrace itself has a beautiful view (see pics at the top of this post and this one below). 

But when a man walked up to my friends and I and asked if we knew the story of this lookout, we were surprised to find out he is the father of the young man who it is named for. He told us the story of his son, and how he fought bravely for Israel. It was powerful to hear his story and to be able to honor him and his son by listening and appreciating the view point.

If you are ever in the Upper Galilee, Rosh Pinna is a beautiful spot you don't want to miss!