Communities of Safed
From Zissil
Warning: You are not logged in.
Your IP address will be recorded in this page's edit history.The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
− | Throughout its | + | Throughout its history Tzfat has served as the home of Jews from many different ethnicities and backgrounds. The Jewish community that existed during the times of the [[Crusaders in Safed|Crusaders]] consisted mainly of Jews whose families had lived in Palestine for centuries. By the [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1517 to 1759|14th and 15th centuries]], Jews were arriving in Tzfat from Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Turkey and other distant points of origination. |
Ashkanazi Jews from Eastern Europe began to immigrate to Palestine in waves during the [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1760 to 1918|18th century]] and many settled in Tzfat. Language difficulties and varying customs prevented these new immigrants from fully integrating with the existing Sepharadic community. Following World War II thousands of refugees arrived in Tzfat, both those who fled from North Africa countries and European refugees who survived the Holocaust. They settled in mixed neighborhoods of Tzfat and blended their traditions and customs. | Ashkanazi Jews from Eastern Europe began to immigrate to Palestine in waves during the [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1760 to 1918|18th century]] and many settled in Tzfat. Language difficulties and varying customs prevented these new immigrants from fully integrating with the existing Sepharadic community. Following World War II thousands of refugees arrived in Tzfat, both those who fled from North Africa countries and European refugees who survived the Holocaust. They settled in mixed neighborhoods of Tzfat and blended their traditions and customs. | ||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
=== Sepharadi Jews === | === Sepharadi Jews === | ||
The majority of the Sepharadi Jewish population of Tzfat is comprised of Jews from Morocco and Tunisia. These people fled their homes after the Israeli victory in the 1948 War of Independence when their countrymen turned on them. According to United Nations estimates over 600,000 Jews were forced to flee from Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq and other Arab lands. Refugees settled in existing towns, villages and cities throughout Israel along with new settlements which were established specifically for their settlement needs. Most of the Sepharadic Jews who came to Tzfat were from the Morocco-Tunisia region. | The majority of the Sepharadi Jewish population of Tzfat is comprised of Jews from Morocco and Tunisia. These people fled their homes after the Israeli victory in the 1948 War of Independence when their countrymen turned on them. According to United Nations estimates over 600,000 Jews were forced to flee from Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq and other Arab lands. Refugees settled in existing towns, villages and cities throughout Israel along with new settlements which were established specifically for their settlement needs. Most of the Sepharadic Jews who came to Tzfat were from the Morocco-Tunisia region. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
=== Ashkanazi Jews === | === Ashkanazi Jews === | ||
Line 27: | Line 25: | ||
=== Chabad === | === Chabad === | ||
The Chabad Hassidic community has a large infrastructure in Tzfat. Although Chabad institutions have existed in Tzfat since the 1800s, the community began to develop during the early 1970s when the then-leader of the movement, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, directed a nucleus of his followers to move to Tzfat and establish Chabad institutions. Through the years the community has grown to include several thousand families. “Kiryat Chabad” -- Chabad-town -- is centered in the [[Canaan Neighborhood Safed|Canaan neighborhood]] of Tzfat. Chabad operates educational institutions throughout Tzfat which are open to all residents. | The Chabad Hassidic community has a large infrastructure in Tzfat. Although Chabad institutions have existed in Tzfat since the 1800s, the community began to develop during the early 1970s when the then-leader of the movement, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, directed a nucleus of his followers to move to Tzfat and establish Chabad institutions. Through the years the community has grown to include several thousand families. “Kiryat Chabad” -- Chabad-town -- is centered in the [[Canaan Neighborhood Safed|Canaan neighborhood]] of Tzfat. Chabad operates educational institutions throughout Tzfat which are open to all residents. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
=== Breslev === | === Breslev === | ||
− | The Breslev Hassidic | + | The Breslev Hassidic community is centered around the Breslev neighborhood in the [[Old City Safed|Old Jewish Quarter of Tzfat]]. The community began to develop in the 1960s when the scion of a Breslev rabbinical family, Rabbi Gedalia Kenig, moved to Tzfat. He built up Breslev institutions including a “yeshiva” -- seminary -- and boys’ school. An offshoot branch of the mainstream Breslev community, the “[[Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman|Na Nachs]],” began to join the old-time Breslev population in the 1980s and they are a sizeable portion of the Breslev Tzfat society community today. The Breslev community is overseen today by Rabbi Gedalia Kenig's son, Rabbi Elazar Kenig. |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
=== English-Speakers === | === English-Speakers === | ||
− | English-speakers who immigrated from English-speaking countries settled in Tzfat beginning in the early | + | English-speakers who immigrated from English-speaking countries settled in Tzfat beginning in the early 1960s. Members of the community are integrated into various Tzfat institutions, religious and cultural life and employment, though the English-speaking community runs many of its own self-help groups. These include a unique English [[Safed English Library|library]], charities, newsletters, educational activities, and self-help groups. Many new initiatives, including unique educational, religious, environmental and cultural programs were introduced to Tzfat by local English-speakers. |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
{{Safed Real Estate}} | {{Safed Real Estate}} | ||
− | |||
[[Category:Safed]] | [[Category:Safed]] | ||
[[Category:Israel Real Estate]] | [[Category:Israel Real Estate]] | ||
[[Category:Jewish Groups]] | [[Category:Jewish Groups]] |