Kikar HaMeginim 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 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | + | [[File:00000123 tree of life sign kikar magenim.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Tree of Life sign.]]('''Hebrew''': כיכר המגינים / '''Translation''': Defender’s Square / '''Pronunciation''' Ki-kar Ha’Meg-in-im /'''Other Names''': Central Square, The Kikar / '''Definition''': Central plaza of Tzfat’s Old Jewish Quarter) | |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | Kikar HaMeginim, the central plaza of [[Old City Safed|Tzfat’s Old City]], is a popular gathering place for residents and visitors. People sit in the sunny square eating ice cream, enjoying a meal or simply sipping a drink while they watch the slow pace of [[Safed|Tzfat]] life and imbue the atmosphere of the hundreds-year-old homes and buildings which surround the plaza. Few people know that the square itself is a major historical landmark of the city. | |
== History == | == History == | ||
− | Ashkanazi Jews began to immigrate to Tzfat in large groups after the [[Safed 1759 Earthquake|1759 earthquake]]. The Ashkanazi community was built further up the hill, north of the existing Sepharadic community, below the main commercial street, | + | Ashkanazi Jews began to immigrate to Tzfat in large groups after the [[Safed 1759 Earthquake|1759 earthquake]]. The Ashkanazi community was built further up the hill, north of the existing Sepharadic community, below the main commercial street, Jerusalem Street. The new neighborhood was built surrounding a public square which the residents called the “Kolin Platz” -- Coal Square. Coal for heating and cooking was sold here. |
=== War of Independence === | === War of Independence === | ||
− | + | During the early part of the Arab siege on Tzfat, the Jewish defenders were headquartered in The Kikar from where they could maintain civilian and military control over the Jewish Quarter. Although the main headquarters later moved to a more defensible position (the home of Ya’akov Mizrachi, father of the first casualty of the Battle for Tzfat), many of the “Haganah” -- defense forces -- communiques and other commands continued to come from a branch of the headquarters which remained in The Kikar throughout the [[Safed-War-of-Independence|Battle for Tzfat]]. | |
After the war the square was renamed “Kikar HaMeginim” -- Defender’s Square. | After the war the square was renamed “Kikar HaMeginim” -- Defender’s Square. | ||
Line 29: | Line 17: | ||
== Venues == | == Venues == | ||
− | There are three | + | There are three restaurants in the Kikar, the Tree of Life vegetarian health food restaurant, a falaffel shop and a “schwarma” -- slivered lamb meat -- stand. In addition there is a stand for drinks and ice-cream. Shade is available during the hot summer days but there’s plenty of sunshine for people who wish to sit out and relax in the sunny fresh air. In addition there is a [[Na-Nach|Breslev]] music shop with discs of Breslev bands and Breslev literature. |
== Activities == | == Activities == | ||
Most of the activities in the Kikar take place on an impromptu basis. Local English-speaking teens and students gather in the Kikar in the evenings to socialize and play music. On Friday nights the local “Hesder Yeshivah” -- pre-army yeshivah -- come to the Kikar to dance and sing the Kabbalat Shabbat service. During the [[Klezmer Festival Safed|annual Klezmer festival]] many street musicians set up their own stages and play spontaneously as people meander around the city. | Most of the activities in the Kikar take place on an impromptu basis. Local English-speaking teens and students gather in the Kikar in the evenings to socialize and play music. On Friday nights the local “Hesder Yeshivah” -- pre-army yeshivah -- come to the Kikar to dance and sing the Kabbalat Shabbat service. During the [[Klezmer Festival Safed|annual Klezmer festival]] many street musicians set up their own stages and play spontaneously as people meander around the city. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Category:Safed]] | [[Category:Safed]] |