Sanz Synagogue Safed
(Hebrew: בית הכנסת צנז / Pronunciation: Tz-antz / Definition: Safed synagogue affiliated with the Sanz Hassidic movement / Description: Tzfat synagogue, established by Sanz Hassidim for prayer, study and mikve immersion)
The Sanz synagogue, the “Divrei Chaim” is one of the Safed’s oldest Ashkanazi synagogues. Members of the Sanz Chassidic community use the synagogue for prayer and study together with other Tzfat residents and visitors. The synagogue is known for its “minyan-mill” which offers continuous prayer quorums throughout the day.
Contents |
Sanz Hassidim
The Sanz Hassidic dynasty was founded in the Polish city of Nowy Sacz by Rabbi Chaim Halberstam, known as the “Divrei Chaim” who died in 1876. A group of Sanz Hassidim immigrated to Tzfat during the middle of the 19th century and established the Sanz synagogue under the direction of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam’s son, Rabbi Mayer Noson Halberstam. The synagogue was named the “Divrei Chaim” in honor of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam.
Direction
Rabbi Chaim wanted to travel to the Land of Israel but was not able to undertake the journey. He asked his eldest son, Rabbi Mayer Noson, to undertake the establishment of a synagogue in Tzfat for the Sanz Hassidim who had moved to Tzfat.
Teachings
Rabbi Chaim taught that all prayers must travel through the Land of Israel on their way to heaven. He felt that his own meditations would benefit if his community supported a synagogue in Israel.
Early Sanz Community
The original Sanz community was comprised of approximately 100 Sanz Hassidim. Their numbers fluctuated widely during the course of historical events in the city, but by the 1970s the community began to enjoy a resurgence, encouraged by the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam of Netanya Israel.
Present-Day Sanz Synagogue
The Sanz community in Safed is centered around the synagogue on Rehov Tarpa. The location of the Sanz synaogogue is close to the central square of the Old Jewish Quarter, Kikar HaMeginim. The synagogue was renovated in the 1990s and included modernizations and additions, including a “Beit Midrash” -- study hall, called “Heichal Zichron Yitzhak.” The southern wall of the synagogue, where the “Aron Kodesh” -- Ark of the Torah Scroll -- is located, is the original wall of the first Sanz synagogue.
Sanzers
The Sanz Hassidim in Tzfat maintain close ties with the various Sanz communities in Bnai Brak, Jerusalem, Netanya and Boro Park in Brooklyn. In addition to the Sanz congregants, many other men pray at the Sanz synaoguge, including Sepharadi, Ashkanazi, Hassidic and non-Hassidic.
Minyan Mill
The Sanz synagogue is one of the few places in Tzfat where men can find a “minyan” -- prayer quorum -- at almost any time of the day or evening. Morning minyans begin every half hour, starting at approximately 6:00a.m. and ending between 9:00a.m. and 10:00a.m., depending on the time of year. This makes it a convenient synagogue for vacationers who are not bound by the need to attend early services.
Women’s Galley
As an Orthodox synagogue the Sanz synagogue follows the Orthodox requirements that men and women pray separately. The women’s galley is on the second floor of the synagogue and offers easy viewing of the men’s section below. Women use the area during the Sabbath and holiday services and the men use it to start new minyans during the weekday services when the downstairs sanctuary is already in use.
Mikve
The Sanz “mikve” -- ritual bath -- is one of the largest in the Old Jewish Quarter of Safed (the Breslev mikve is the largest). The men’s mikve is open to men during the daytime while a second mikve for women is available to women in the evenings. All mikves are clean and well-attended. The water is well-heated (one of the men’s mikves is kept at room-temperature for men who prefer the colder water) and a small fee is collected for the mikve’suse.
Kitchen Utensils
A small mikve for utensils sits outside the Sanz synagogue. Both men and women can access the mikve for dishes and other culinary items.
Several days before the Passover holiday a staff of men maintain a huge boiling pot of water where people can immerse suitable utensils that they plan to use for Passover.