Early Safed History
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|image = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Early Safed History]] | |image = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Early Safed History]] | ||
|header1 = Hebrew: | |header1 = Hebrew: | ||
| − | |data2 = ההיסטוריה | + | |data2 = ההיסטוריה של צפת |
|header7 = Description: | |header7 = Description: | ||
| − | |data8 = | + | |data8 = Known early history of Tzfat, Israel from Biblical through Roman times.}} |
| − | Historians and archaeologists | + | Historians and archaeologists are not certain when [[Safed]] was settled nor how far back Jewish settlement of Tzfat can be traced. However, evidence from a number of different directions indicate that Tzfat has played an important part in Jewish history [[Safed History|for over 2000 years]]. |
== Early Settlement == | == Early Settlement == | ||
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== Talmudic References == | == Talmudic References == | ||
| − | Safed, at an elevation of 900 meters above sea level, is the highest city in Israel. The earliest known written reference to Tsfat comes from the Talmud. Talmud Yerushalmi, in Masechet Rosh Hashana mentions “Zefath” as one of the five elevated spots where the fires would be lit to mark a “Rosh Chodesh” -- new month. During the times of the Beit HaMikdash and for several centuries afterward, witnesses in Jerusalem would testify when they spotted a New Moon, as this signified the onset of a new month. A massive bonfire would be lit in Jerusalem and immediately afterward, on successive mountaintops throughout the country. This served as a kind of “smoke signal” to alert the country’s Jews that a new month had begun. The | + | Safed, at an elevation of 900 meters above sea level, is the highest city in Israel. The earliest known written reference to Tsfat comes from the Talmud. Talmud Yerushalmi, in Masechet Rosh Hashana mentions “Zefath” as one of the five elevated spots where the fires would be lit to mark a “Rosh Chodesh” -- new month. During the times of the Beit HaMikdash and for several centuries afterward, witnesses in Jerusalem would testify when they spotted a New Moon, as this signified the onset of a new month. A massive bonfire would be lit in Jerusalem and immediately afterward, on successive mountaintops throughout the country. This served as a kind of “smoke signal” to alert the country’s Jews that a new month had begun. The Safed mountaintop is believed to have been the northernmost spot where these bonfires were lit, visible to the Jews who lived over the borders of the Land of Israel in today’s Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. |
== Roman Era == | == Roman Era == | ||
A further reference to Tzfat comes from Josephus, the Jewish General who fought against the Romans and ultimately joined the Roman cause. Josephus wrote in Chapter 25 of his book “The War of the Jews” that he had stationed a battallion of Jewish soldiers on the hilltop of a town in the Galilee that he called “Seph” /”Zeph.” Historians believe that this refers to the area that is present-day Tzfat and agree that this description jives with existing knowledge of Josephus’s battle strategy against the Roman legions and the battles that were fought in the region. | A further reference to Tzfat comes from Josephus, the Jewish General who fought against the Romans and ultimately joined the Roman cause. Josephus wrote in Chapter 25 of his book “The War of the Jews” that he had stationed a battallion of Jewish soldiers on the hilltop of a town in the Galilee that he called “Seph” /”Zeph.” Historians believe that this refers to the area that is present-day Tzfat and agree that this description jives with existing knowledge of Josephus’s battle strategy against the Roman legions and the battles that were fought in the region. | ||
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==Tanaic Graves== | ==Tanaic Graves== | ||
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The [[Ancient-Tzfat-Cemetery|Tzfat cemetery]] is best known for the graves of the great rabbis and kabbalists of the Middle Ages but graves of ancient rabbis and other personalities attest to the importance of the site, both before and during the Roman era. According to the testimony of the Arizal many unidentified Tanaim and earlier Tzadikim are buried in this cemetery. | The [[Ancient-Tzfat-Cemetery|Tzfat cemetery]] is best known for the graves of the great rabbis and kabbalists of the Middle Ages but graves of ancient rabbis and other personalities attest to the importance of the site, both before and during the Roman era. According to the testimony of the Arizal many unidentified Tanaim and earlier Tzadikim are buried in this cemetery. | ||
| − | === Grave of Hannah | + | === Grave of Hannah and her Seven Sons === |
| − | Along the top northern edge of the cemetery there is a small hill. Tradition relates that this | + | Along the top northern edge of the cemetery there is a small hill. Tradition relates that this grave is the grave of Hannah and her Seven Sons. According to the tradition, Hannah watched as her seven sons were killed by the Hellenist rulers in the 1st century B.C.E. She urged her sons to submit to death rather then worship Greek Gods. After her youngest son was killed Hannah killed herself and the community buried them together, on the small hilltop at the foot of Safed, at the current location of the army cemetery. |
=== Graves of the Tannai’im === | === Graves of the Tannai’im === | ||
| − | There are a number of Kevarim of Tanaim in Tzfat, further attesting to the fact that the area was settled at that time. [[Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas|Rabbi Dosa ben Hurkenus]] is buried in the | + | There are a number of Kevarim of Tanaim in Tzfat, further attesting to the fact that the area was settled at that time. [[Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas|Rabbi Dosa ben Hurkenus]] is buried in the Cave of Shem Vever on the slope of the [[Metzuda-of-Safed|Mitzuda]]. [[Antigonus Ish Socho]] and [[Natan Dezuzita|Nason Ditzuzisa]] are buried at the edge of [[Canaan-Neighborhood-Safed|Canaan]]. Rabbi Yossi Banah is buried in the [[Old City Safed|Old City]]. [[Binyamin-Hatzadik|Binyamin HaTzaddik]] and [[Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu]] are buried in [[Darom Neighborhood Safed|southern Tzfat]]. [[Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya|Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya]], [[Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta]] and [[Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair]] are buried in the old Cemetery. Rabbi Chiya, Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Yitzchok from the Zohar as well as [[Yossi-ben-Yoezer]], [[Yossi-ben-Yochanan]], [[Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKane]], [[Rabbi Chutzpis HameTurgeman]], [[Rabbi Natan HaBavli]] and the [[Son of Rav Safra]] are buried underneath Tzfat in the [[Wadi-Amud-Safed|Wadi Amud]] / Secvi area. |
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| + | == Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Era == | ||
| + | After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem many survivors fled to the North. Talmudic scholars and teachers, including compilers of the Talmud, settled in Tzfat. | ||
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| + | === City of Refuge for Priests === | ||
| + | No written mention is known of the fate of Tzfat’s citizens during the revolts against the Romans. Two Kinot, Eichah Yashevah and Zechor Eichah, which were written by Eleazar Kallir to be read on the Ninth of Av, the Jewish day of mourning, refer to Safed as a place where the priestly families of Yakim and Pashhur settled after the destruction of the Temple. | ||
== Byzantine and Post Byzantine Era == | == Byzantine and Post Byzantine Era == | ||