The ancient city of Zefat is also spelled Safed, Tsfat, Zfat, Safad, Safes, Safet, Tzfat, etc.). It is a rather small town in Northern Israel situated 900 meters (3200 feet) above sea level in the mountains of the Upper Galilee.

It is  one   of the  four  holy cities in Israel. The exotic location of Zefat provides marvelous panoramic views north to the snowy Mount Hermon and Lebanon, west to Mt. Meron and the Amud Valley, east to the Golan and south to Tiberias and the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). The pleasant summers and snowy winters with a lot of greenery have made Zefat one of Israel's popular destinations. The famous mountain air is conducive for thinking and meditation. The seclusion and tranquility is provided by the nearby forest and nature reserve.
               In the 15-16 centuries Zefat flourished in every respect. The   town became a financial   and   religious Jewish center. Many prominent kabbalists made their home here and turned the town into a center for Jewish mysticism.  Besides the kabbalists, Zefat attracted numerous other Jewish scholars and spiritualists.   In the 16 century  the  first  printing press  in the Middle East  was  established  in  Zefat .  Jewish population    was only  about  two  thousand  people  but  they  were  wise people  studying  Torah  and its” hidden”, spiritual side.
           In 5277 (1516)   the Ottoman Empire under Selim the1st conquered Palestine. Under the Ottomans, Zefat was part of the vilayet of Sidon.   Many    Jews, who had   lived  in  the Ottoman Empire  after  the Spanish Expulsion  , moved to  Zefat  and it  was   important    development    of  the  town . An influx of Ashkenasim also reinvigorated the community.
       The   new settlers   were basically people expert in trading affairs.  Ceramics, diamonds, handicrafts, textiles and soap were produced in the town and sold everywhere in the Middle East.   But also the poor lived in Zefat.  They received donations from the rich Jews who lived in the countries of the Diaspora. For example, rich Jews of Constantinople sponsored studying of poor children in Zefat.  However in the majority, the citizens were prosperous and industrious people.
        The  Jewish  population was increased  in  the  Middle  Ages  by  immigration of Jews  from Spain  and reached up to  18 thousand   people.  Zefat became an important center of rabbinical and kabbalistic studies, which it remained throughout the 17th century.
      In the evening of the Ottoman Empire Zefat fell into decay due to earthquakes, plagues and Arab attacks .The town of Zefat suffered terribly leading to the decline of its population. In 1837 an earthquake killed    4, 000 Jewish inhabitants, mostly by burying them in their homes. Many Jews left the town escaping from pogrom, which followed the earthquake.
          In 5537(1799) a  group of Chasids from Russia came   to the Holy Land.  They were led by Rebbe  Menachem-Mendel from Vitebsk , Rebbe  Abraham  from Kalisk  and  Rebbe Israel  from Polozk- the disciples of The Magid of Mezrich. The  Alter Rebbe also joined them.  The  Alter Rebbe and his family moved to Mogilyov (the town on the bank of the Dnestr-river near Turkey).  They remained there about  3  weeks  and   Rebbe  Menachem-Mendel  from  Vitebsk persuaded  Alter Rebbe not to leave Jews of Belorussia and  Lithuania  without their  leader. So he returned home and group of Chasids, which became more then 400 people, sailed to the Holy Land. Soon a heavy storm broke out, one of the ships crashed down, 80 people sank and only 30 were rescued and got  the Crimea. The rest of Chasids, knowing nothing about the tragedy, got safely the Holy Land on the 5th of Alul and settled in Zefat.
After that a revival of Zefat began but an earthquake in 1837 led to decline of the Jewish community, leaving only 1500 people.  Zefat  revived  again under  the British mandate   in spite of  Arab  attacks  in 1929…
        In 1975 Chasids of the Lubavich  Rebbe  King Moshiach built  a new district - Keriyat Chabbad.  Painters, sculptors, writers and poets moved in the former   Arabic houses.  Nowadays galleries and   exhibitions   are opened here.

Ancient synagogues   and holy graves, picturesque districts  with winding streets. Here  you  can see  old men  in  fur hats  which are made of 12  parts of the fox tail .It is  also  famous   as  a  health  and holiday  resort . In  Zefat  you  can  see  a  district of painters ( Artists Colony) where  live   and  work  a lot  of  painters ,sculptors, pencil artists . Here there are   a lot of architectural monuments, picture galleries and The Printing Press Museum.
      A lot of people visit ancient synagogues in Zefat.  All of   them are situated in the Old City where we can get by the main street -Jerusalem street, winding around a mountain.  Further by we get to Chatam Sofe street which is the beginning of the Old City.

The 1st synagogue on our way is   Abuav Sinagoge, named after Rabbi Isaak Abuav , a  famous kabbalist of 15th century. Ancient scrolls of Torah are kept here. They are used in Rosh Hashana , Yom Kippur  and Shavuot. It is noteworthy that during the earthquake in 1837 all the building was wrecked except one wall which was turned to Jerusalem.
       Alshiach  Synagogue  was  built in 16th century, named after rabbi  Moshe  Alshiach ,an  author  of comments to  Torah. In   Banay Synagogue there is the tomb of Rabbi Banay. On Alckabetz street there is   Caro Synagogue, named after Rabbi Joseph Caro,the  author  of the Shulchan Aruch.  The ashkenasi   Ari Synagogue is situated on Hagar street. It is the  place were Rabbi Izhak Luria glorified Sabbath. This  synagogue  was built  in the  16th century  and  wrecked  in 1837  during  the  earthquake .  In 15 years it was rebuilt at the same basis.   The most famous synagogue in Zefat , the sephardik  Ari Synagogue, is  near the city cemetery, named after  one  of the greatest commentator of Judaism. Here  you  can  see the niche  where  Ari caused to read Torah with   forefathers Abraham ,Izhak , Yakov and also  Moshe ,Aaron ,Joseph and David.  They all were and read the right fragment and then disappeared .

     There are a lot of caves near the Zefat. The most famous is the Cave of Shem and Ever, which is situated not far from the bridge between Jerusalem and Palmach streets.  This cave is connected with the names of Shem and Ever (son and grandson of Noah). In the western part of the city there is an ancient cemetery where buried great rabbies of the 16th century: Kordovero, Alckabetz, Alshich, Ari. On the top of the mountain there was a fortress of the Crusaders, nowadays it is  a beautiful park  with  a panoramic sight of the city.