Safed (also known as Tzfat, Zfat or Safed etc.) is a rather small city located in northern Israel, 900 meters (3200 feet) above sea level in the High Galilee mountains, which offers magnificent views.

Artists Quarter

Its past is very rich and the city was founded in 70 AD, it flourished in the 16th century, when many famous religious and mystical Jewish scholars moved to it after the Spanish expulsion, fleeing the horrors of the Inquisition. Safed became the spiritual center of the Jewish world, where Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) reached the peak of its influence. Safed is also known as a city of art, as many creators have been attracted to the winding of the city and an artists’ neighborhood was founded where dozens of galleries swarm.

In the summer many activities are carried out also taking advantage of its cool climate. Among these is the famous Kleizmer Festival that celebrates its 32nd anniversary of its foundation. In the act of presentation of the festival and of the summer activities the mayor of Safed, Yehoshua (Shuki) Ohana, assured that “this is a unique city in the world”

Musicians in “Beit Tet Vav”

He added “Safed: the capital of Galilee, an urban jewel full of magic, nature and fascinating history, is in the midst of renewal, development and flowering. It offers visitors a unique experience at an international level: an ancient city with an urban continuity of 4,000 years and an impressive heritage that is exposed in the alleys, spirituality, art and rich creation throughout the 2,000 years of the Jewish community”. Invite the public to visit the city.

Abouhav Wine Center

The Klezmer International Festival in Safed will be held this year on three special days between 12 and 14.8 with a program of more than 90 presentations open to the public, free of charge. This year, together with the free shows that take place in several stages, the Municipal Tourism Department organizes guided tours, tour through ancient tunnels, children’s complexes, conferences and workshops in the spirit of the Safed Kabbalah.

Underground Tunnels

In these walks you pass through the picturesque alleys of Safed, you visit ancient synagogues, specialized workshops, art galleries and panoramic points with breathtaking landscapes. Between 14 and 15.8, some, most, without charge.

On the Kleizmer International Festival, which is the largest Jewish “soul music” festival in the world, tens of thousands of visitors from Israel and around the world are expected to attend this year as well. The program is very rich and includes dozens of unique musical performances on various stages scattered around the old alleys in the unique atmosphere of Safed.

This year, the festival will feature great artists who will perform special songs by Klezmer and his known hits, including: Omar Adam, Shalva, Miri Masika, Yuval Dayan, Narkis and Shlomo Gronich, along with other artists such as Aharon Razael, the Klezmer Orchestra Israeli of Leizerson, the artistic director is Hanan Bar Sela, There will be a stage in which the main part of the performances will be dedicated to the songs of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, the stage of Commonwealth artists, several local and foreign ensembles.

Leizerson and his Kleizmer group

Some suggestions to visit. In the Association “Libnot and Lehibanot” (Build and Understand) of the Old City there will be guided visits to the visitor center with a tour that is a unique experience for the whole family and a visit to the “Tunnels”, a magical underground route that It shows the history, the ancient Jewish and Safed settlement of the 16th century, a unique experience awaits travelers in 180-meter long tunnels that cross the Old City. The tunnels were excavated by 10,000 young people during approximately 5 years of work and show the ancient settlement, water wells and life centuries ago.

The complex “Habait Tet Vav” an old home transformed into a place that offers tours and cultural meetings or private events etc. In this home of more than 300 years, which preserves the magical style of Safed, you can see a new and spectacular 12-minute visual audio show, which shows the history of the city of Safed for more than 3,000 years with new and advanced technology which makes history a magical and interesting experience for the whole family.

A visit to the visitor center of “Abouhab Winery” will reveal the magical and ancient world of Safed in an old 600-year-old building where wines of different types and prices are prepared, among them the most expensive wine produced from a single grape with a value of 3,600 shekel. During the visit you can taste the wines and cheeses.