Safed Institutions

{{Infobox
|title = Institutions of Tzfat
|image        = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Institutions of Tzfat]]
|header1 = Hebrew:
|data2  =  מוסדות צפת
|header3 = Pronunciation:
|data4  = Mos-dot Tzfat
|header5 = Other Names:
|data6   = Tzfat Organizations
|header7 = Description:
|data8   = Institutions and Organizations offering services in Safed, Israel}}

Although [[Safed|Tzfat]] is a small city the municipality, community organizations and individual residents operate a number of vital institutions that ease the lives of its citizens.

== Overview ==
[[Communities of Safed|Tzfat’s communities]] includes members of many different ethnicities and religious beliefs but a wide variety of community organizations and institutions serve all. These institutions include cultural, religious and social groups that provide opportunities which improve the lives of citizens of the Tzfat region.

=== Medical ===
Tzfat’s location has made it a natural center of medical services for northern Israel. The [[Ziv Hospital Safed|Rebecca Ziv Hospital]] offers state-of-the-art medical service along with personalized small-town hospital care. In conjunction with the medical center, Israel’s fifth [[Safed Medical School|Medical School]] is training a new generation of physicians who receive part of their training at the Ziv Hospital. The Clalit, Leumit, Meuhedit and Maccabi Health funds provide basic medical services in their clinics which are located throughout the city while pregnant women and babies receive care at mother-child clinics which the Health Department operates in every neighborhood. Individuals who are interested in investing in their emotional health can turn to [[In The Quiet Space Safed Relaxation Technique|In the Quiet Space]] to learn relaxation techniques or they can request psychological services from the local Mental Health Department.

=== Educational ===
Tzfat’s Department of Education operates a wide variety of educational facilities including schools for ultra-orthodox boys and girls (separate), national religious boys and girls (separate), non-religious boys and girls, teens in distress, special education and vocational education. In addition, a number of ultra-orthodox organizations operate their own mostly-Yiddish-speaking educational facilities which are not affiliated with the Department of Education. These independent educational facilities do not receive State funding. [[Halevav-Safed-Center-for-Healthy-Living|Halavav]] operates programs of environmental education and the [[Otiyot Hayot---Living-Letters|Otiyot Hayot]] provides instruction in the Kabbalistic meanings of the Hebrew Letters.

=== Libraries ===
Tzfat’s community centers run community libraries with Hebrew, English and Russian-language books. In addition, the local [[Safed English Library|English Library]] serves the northern region with free books, videos, DVDs, audio-books and a children’s library.

=== Social Programs ===
In addition to the city Welfare Department a number of local non-profits provide services to Tzfat citizens as well as individuals who come from other areas. Nefesh B’Nefesh has a presence in Tzfat and offers assistance to new immigrants from Western countries while the [[Committee-Ethiopian-Jews-Safed|Committee for Ethiopian Jews in Safed]] provides assistance to new immigrants from Ethiopia. The [[Lev UNeshama Safed Charity|Lev U’Neshama]]  charity operates a used clothing shop which supports its program of providing food, eyeglasses and shoes to the needy of Tzfat. The [[Blind Advancement Center Tzfat|Center for the Blind]] brings sight-impaired students from throughout Israel to Tzfat to learn the skills that they will need to manage without sight.

=== Cultural ===
Tzfat’s cultural life involves movies, concerts, lectures and educational programs which take place at the [[Beit-Yigal-Alon-Safed|Beit Yigal Alon]] Cultural Center. The center serves educational, municipal and cultural organizations in the city. The Khan of the White Donkey Safed|Khan of the White Donkey]] offers weekly Thursday-night concerts along with classes, dance nights, open mic nights, lectures and holiday celebrations for the local community as well as visitors.

[[Category:Safed]]
[[Category:Israeli Organizations]]