The Galilee and Golan Heights are full of beautiful hikes in nature,
charming villages and kibbutzim, excellent wineries & restaurants,
all within 25-45 minutes drive from Safed. Highlights are the Sea of Galilee (swimming May-Nov), Jordan River (rafting, kayaking), Hula Valley (birdwatching), Mount Hermon (skiing in winter), Banias and Tel Dan Nature Reserves, Hot Springs in Tiberias & Hamat Gader and lookouts over the Syrian and Lebanese borders.
You can easily spend a week exploring and enjoying the beautiful north of Israel.

Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) – recommended beaches for swimming: Amnon, Hukuk, Migdal, Ginossar, Gai Beach water park & Bora Bora.

Hamat Gader Hot Springs 04-665-9999
For children: Mini safari, petting zoo, crocodile farm, parrot show and water park.
The thermo-mineral springs here have been valued for their healing properties since Roman times. The site has numerous pools of different temperatures, jacuzzis and treatment rooms.

Bat Yaar Ranch – Amuka 04-6921788
Horseback riding, Jeep tours, archery range, rope course. Meat restaurant.
Driving distance from hotel: 10 minutes
Horseback riding also at Vered Hagalil, 18 min drive from hotel.

Hula Lake Nature Reserve – 04-6817137
Internationally acclaimed bird watching park, over 500 million birds, no less than 390 species, pass through each year on their migration route between Europe, Africa and Asia. Rent a bicycle or electric family vehicle or take a nature tours – sunrise/sunset tours. Driving distance from hotel: 35 minutes.

Canada Centre, Metula – 04-6950370
At the northern tip of Israel, near the Lebanese border, this is a sports and recreation center with an indoor ice skating rink, heated swimming pools, a bowling alley, shooting range. Great for indoor winter activities for all ages. Distance from hotel: 45 minutes.

De Karina Chocolate Factory, Kibbutz Ein Zivan, Golan – 04-6993622
Guided tours and fun chocolate making workshops. Requires pre-booking,
Open Sun-Thurs: 9:00-17:00, Friday and holiday eve: 9-15:00. Closed Sat.
Next door to Pelter Winery – excellent boutique winery. Distance from hotel: 45 minutes

Hiking Routes – The Northern part of Israel is known for its mountain scenery, lush green beauty, and many winding streams that run into the Sea of Galilee. There are many National Parks for nature lovers to explore and scores of hiking trails.

 

Wadi Rosh Pina

Length of the route: 3 km, 1-3 hours,.  Difficulty: easy

Distance from The Way Inn: 15 minute drive.

Directions from Safed: Drive route 8900 to Rosh Pina, turn left on Hachalutzim St. toward the cemetery, park the car and continue on the gravel path up the wadi.

The Jordan River

Length of the route: 2 – 8 km (can be entered with a private vehicle), 2-4 hours.

Difficulty: easy.  Distance from The Way Inn: half hour drive.

Directions from Safed: Take road 90 north, at Mahanayim Junction turn right onto road 91, past Kibbutz Gadot and after about a kilometer the road curves to a sharp bend to the left. Prior to the bend there is a sign “Jordan Mountain” inviting to enter the gravel path.

The Hanging Bridge In Banias

Length of the route: 05. Km, Level of difficulty: easy and short.

Location: Near the entrance road to Kibbutz Snir.

Directions from Safed: Take Route 90 and turn right at the Nehemia junction to Route 99, pass by Kibbutz Dan and Snir, and turn right towards the Banias Waterfall.

 

Majrase

The quintessential Israeli summer water hike.  This short trail leads hikers under a beautiful canopy of trees, right through a bubbling stream. The first part of the trail is for everyone but the second part of the trail heads through deep water for swimmers only. 

Alongside the stream is a wheelchair accessible/stroller friendly path, making it a good option for families with small children. 

Yehudiya Falls

At Yehudiya, you can follow a trail past antiquities, to beautiful views, and down to an large waterfall pool at the bottom. It’s shady and cool and you can relax there for hours. Be prepared for a hike up the hill to the trailhead.

Nahal Kziv

Considered by some to be the most beautiful long water hike in Northern Israel.

From an ancient crusader fortress and stunning views of the surrounding area, to a long and lazy riverbed path, it’s a great way to spend a day out in nature. You’ll keep cool under the thick canopy of trees that covers the stream the whole way through. 

Nahal Hakibbutzim – 1 hour and 20 minutes from Safed.

Located in the water-rich Beit Shean Valley, by Rt. 669,this series of streams is formed by water from a couple of local springs, Ein Homa and Ein Shokek, and it isn’t hard to find an isolated spot along its banks. Access is eased by rental bikes or golf carts; otherwise, it can be a 1.8-kilometer walk in the heat. Entry is via the traffic circle at the entrance to Sachne. Combine with a visit to Beit Shean’s fantastic Roman antiquities.

Ein Aviel – 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Safed.

Near Zichron Yaakov and the Carmel mountain range, sitting at this spring, you feel you are indoors – with walls and ceiling provided by overgrown reeds. This cool gem is off of Rt. 654, on the way toward Moshav Aviel. Where the asphalt road takes an abrupt 90-degree right turn, continue off-road for 100 meters to the loquat orchard, then turn right for 200 meters and look for the reeds.

From the writings of Rabbi Leah Novick, author of On the Wings of Shekhinah

Kabbalah is a Jewish spiritual philosophy which illuminates the nature of God, the creation of the world, the descent of the soul, and the purpose of life on this earth and beyond. Grounded in traditional Jewish religious practice (belief in the sacredness of the Torah and the observance of the 613 “mitzvoth” or positive instructions) the seminal literature of this mystical system (Sefer Bahir and Sefer Yetzirah) first appeared in scholarly Medieval Jewish circles.

The Zohar or Book of Brilliance appeared around the end of the 13th century and was offered as a compilation of ancient esoteric wisdom.  Much of the material was presented in parables and legends that provide unique and profound interpretations of the Old Testament.

The development of the system of Sephirot (energy emanations of the Divine arranged on a Cosmic Tree of Life) followed, with implications for use by adepts in prayer, devotion, spiritual evolution and planetary healing. The 16th and 17th century Kabbalists of Safed in Northern Israel, and the miracle working Rabbis of 18th and 19th century Eastern Europe, added new dimensions to the study, teaching and application of Kabbalah to both personal and community life.

This very complex system has a truly simple goal; to teach us that human beings hold the imprint of the Divine and have within them the faculties and capacity to bring down the flow of light energy into this physical dimension.  Humans, created in God’s image, are thus endowed with the ability to serve as the bridge between heaven and earth and are therefore capable of impacting on the direction of the universe towards an enlightened future.

KABBALAH READING LIST
Ashlag, Yehudah. An Entrance to the Zohar : The Key to the Portals of Jewish Mysticism; compiled and edited by Philip S. Berg. Jerusalem : New York : Research Center of Kabbalah, [1975] c1974.

Cohen, Yedidah and Cohen, Mark.  In the Shadow of the Ladder: Introductions to Kabbalah by Rabbi Yehuda Lev Ashlag. Safed: Nehora Press, 2003.  www.nehorapress.com

Cohen, Yedidah. A Tapestry for the Soul: The Introduction to the Zohar by Rabbi Yehudah Lev Ashlag. Safed: Nehora Press, 2010.  www.nehorapress.com

Cordovero, R. Moshe Ben Yaacov The Palm Tree of Devorah   Miller, Moshe (translator/annotator). Southfield, Michigan: Targum Press.

Dan, Joseph. Jewish Mysticism (Volumes I & II Antiquity and The Middle Ages) Northvale N. J:   J. Aronson 1998

Dan, Joseph (ed). The Heart and the Fountain : An Anthology of Jewish Mystical Experiences. Oxford : New York : Oxford University Press, 2002.

Fisdel, Steven A. The Practice of Kabbalah: Meditation in Judaism. Northvale, NJ: Aronson, c 1996.

Frankiel, Tamar Ph.D. The Gift of Kabbalah Discovering the Secrets of Heaven, Renewing Your Life on Earth.Jewish Lights, Woodstock, Vt. 2004

Gikatilla, R.   Joseph Ben Abraham   Gates of Light Weinstein, Avi trans. (historical intro. by Moshe Idel). San Francisco: Harper Collins, c 1994.

Ginsburg, Elliott Kiba. The Sabbath in the Classical Kabbalah. Albany : State University of New York Press, 1989.

Gottlieb, Freema. The Lamp of God: A Jewish Book of Light. Northvale, N. J.: Jason Aronson, 1996 c 1989.

Green, Arthur.  Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow. Woodstock, Vt : Jewish Lights, c2003

Green, Arthur. A Guide to the Zohar. Stanford Ca. Stanford Univ Press 2004

Hallamish, Moshe. An Introduction to the Kabbalah. Translated by Ruth Bar-Ilan and Ora Wiskind-Elper. Albany, NY: State Univ Press, c 1999

Hoffman, Edward. The Heavenly Ladder: Kabbalistic Techniques for Inner Growth. Sturminster Newton England: Prism Press, 1996

Idel, Moshe. Kabbalah : New Perspectives. New Haven : Yale University Press, c1988

Jacobs, Louis. Jewish Mystical Testimonies: N.Y. Schocken Books, Jerusalem Keter 1976

Kaplan, Aryeh (ed and trans). Meditation and Kabbalah. York Beach, Me.: S. Weiser, 1993, c1982.

Kaplan, Aryeh. Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide.  New York: Schocken Books, 1985

Litman, Rav Michael. Kabbalah, Science and the Meaning of Life: Because your life has meaning.           Bnei Baruch, Laitman Kabbalah, 2006

Leet, Leonora.  Renewing the Covenant: A Kabbalistic Guide to Jewish Spirituality. Rochester, NY: Inner Traditions, c 1999

Luzzato, Moses. General Principles of the Kabbalah. Translation by the Research Centre of Kabbalah. New York : Press of the Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1970.

Matt, Daniel C. The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism. San Francisco: Harper, 1996.

Matt, Daniel. The Zohar: Pritzker Edition. 4 Volumes. Palo Alto, California : Stanford University Press, Vols. I & II 2004 Vol III 2006, Vol. IV 2007.

Scholem, Gershom Gerhard. On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead: Basic Concepts in the Kabbalah. Translated from German by Joachim Neugroschel. New York : Schocken Books, c1991.

Scholem, Gershom. Origins of the Kabbalah. Edited by R.J. Werblowsky: translated by Allan Arkush. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1987

Scholem, Gershom. On the   Kabbalah and It’s Symbolism. New York: Schocken Books c 1965

Sherbok, Dan Cohn (ed). Jewish Mysticism : An Anthology. Oxford : Rockport, MA : Oneworld, c1995.

Shulman, Y. David The Sefirot: Ten Emanations of Divine Power. Northvale, N.J.  London, Jason Aronson 1996

Steinsaltz, Rabbi Adin. The Thirteen Petalled Rose: A Discourse on the Essence of Jewish Existence and Belief. Basic Books, 2006 (reissue of 1980 original).

Tishby, Isaiah (ed with Fischel Lachower, interpretations by Tishby) The Wisdom of the Zohar: An Anthology of Texts (Three Volumes) English translation by David Goldstein   London U.K and Washington D. C. Littman Library of Jewish Civilization 1994

Trachtenberg, Joshua. Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion. New York : Atheneum, 1974, 1939.

Winkler, Gershon. Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, c 2003.

The Zohar. Sterling, Harry & Simon, Maurice (translators and editors).London, N.Y.  Soncino Press, 1984.

One of the four holy cities of Israel along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberius, Safed – the city of air – has been associated with mysticism and spirituality since ancient times. The connection goes all the way back to Shem and Ever, the son and grandson of Noah, who, legend has it, established a study hall for Torah learning in Safed.

The world’s first beit midrash is where the sages say Jacob studied for 14 years on his escape to Lavan and where Abraham sent Isaac to study after the akeidah. The cave of Shem and Ever is today a holy site in Safed revered by Jews and Muslims. Safed has been identified with Sepph, a fortified town mentioned in the writings of the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus. It is mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud as one of five elevated spots where fires were lit to announce the New Moon and festivals during the Second Temple period. Safed’s Golden Age came in the 16th century when many prominent rabbis fleeing the Inquisition in Spain found their way to Safed, among them some of the greatest teachers of kabbalah who ever lived: the holy Ari Rabbi Yitzhak Luria, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Hayyim Vital, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz (composer of the Sabbath hymn Lecha Dodi), Rabbi Yosef Karo (author of the Shulchan Aruch).

The old part of town consists of charming cobblestone alleys revealing medieval synagogues, artists’ galleries, museums, wineries, dairies, an ancient cemetery and a crusader fortress. Here are some highlights:

* Note: shops in Safed are generally open from 9.00am – 6:00 pm, or until dark in summer. Some shops close for lunch between 1 or 2pm until 4 pm.

Abuhav Synagogue, one of the most beautiful of the Safed synagogues, is unusual in that it has three Torah arks, one of which houses the holy Torah scroll of the great 14th century Spanish sage Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav, for which the synagogue was originally built.

HaAri Ashkenaz Synagogue has a beautiful carved olive wood bimah and is one of the most well-known and highly visited synagogues in Safed. Constructed in the 16th century by immigrants from Greece it was built on the site where the Holy Ari and his disciples would gather to greet the Sabbath in the open fields in the northern part of the city.

HaAri Sephardi Synagogue is where the Holy Ari Rabbi Yitzchak Luria actually prayed and studied Torah (with the prophet Eliyahu, it is said). It is the oldest surviving synagogue in Safed, located near the ancient cemetery.

Yosef Caro Synagogue is located in the building where the great sage served as head of the Rabbinical Court and later it became his study hall. Some of his writing was done in a room located underneath the Karo Synagogue. It contains several old Torah scrolls and a ‘Geniza’ section of ancient manuscripts.

Alsheich Synagogue has remained standing since the 16th century and is the only building in the Old City to survive intact the earthquakes of 1759 and 1837.

The Banai synagogue, located at the base of the Old Jewish Quarter, contains the grave of the 3rd century sage, Yossi Banai. It is also called the “Tzadik HaLavan” because of a miracle performed during the time of Turkish rule. The local ruler had decreed that if the Jews did not bring a great number of white chickens, they would be forced to pay a large collective fine. The impoverished Jewish community prayed at the grave of R’ Banai and R’ Yossi Saragosi. When the community awoke the following morning they found that all their chickens had turned white.
Avritch Synagogue is famous for the miracle of 1837 when Rabbi Dov from the town of Avrich in the Ukraine was leading his Hassidim in prayer. Suddenly he called his followers to come and stand next to him at the front wall. As the men rushed to their rabbi, a strong earthquake struck the city. Close to a fourth of the city’s citizens died but all the men at the synagogue survived.

Safed’s ancient cemetery goes back to the 1st century CE and contains the remains of sages from the Mishna period as well as the great 16th century Kabbalistic masters the Holy Ari, Rabbi Joseph Caro and Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz.

The Ari Mikvah (ritual bath) at the top of the cemetery, is still in use today by men only. According to tradition this is the Mikveh used by the Ha’Ari himself. Immersion is in a cold pool fed by a natural spring.

The General Exhibition of the Artists’ Colony houses a collection of works by Safed artists. There are also galleries in the plaza outside. Located in the old mosque of the former Arab Quarter of Safed, which became an Artists’ Colony in the 1950s and was home to some of Israel’s leading artists.
Safed Candle Factory: just past the Ari Ashkenaz synagogue. Lovely multicolored Shabbat and Havdalah candles, natural beeswax candles and incredible wax sculptures.
Beit Hameiri Museum– a historical museum documenting the life of the Jewish community of Safed from the beginning of the 19th century until 1948. Hours: 9 am-2 pm. Call 04-6971307 or 04-6921939 for more details.

Museum of Hungarian-Speaking Jewry displays the rich past of the Hungarian Jewish community and presents many facets of its life and customs. There is a vast archival collection and library. Guided tours and consultation on research of family roots are available upon request. Located at 100 HaPalmach St. inside the Ottoman Saraya compound. Hours: 9 am-2 pm Sun-Thurs., 9-1 Friday. Call 04-692-5881 or email: museum@hjm.org.il website: museum@hjm.org.il

Cheese Factories:

Safed has two great dairies, both making delicious artisan cheeses from traditional recipes.
HaMeiri Cheese (Keren Hayesod St., near Beit Hameiri), tel: 04-6921431, 052-372-1609. www.hameiri-cheese.co.il Every Friday, a guided tour of the dairy takes place at 12:00. Tours can be arranged Sundays to Thursdays for groups of six or more.

Kadosh Cheese, 34 Yud Alef St., Tel: 050-729-9798. A hidden gem, the tiny Kadosh dairy has been producing cheese for over 100 years. In addition to many varieties of sheep and goat cheeses (including its’ famous Safed cheese), the dairy also produces delicacies such as stuffed vine leaves, olive oil and the famous Kadosh halvah (a desert made from tahini).

Old Safed Winery, Beit Yosef 29 – www.safed-winery.co.il For wine tasting and tours, contact Moshe, at 050-4480-884 or 054-3478874. The winery is located on Yosef Caro Street near the big staircase, below the Eshtam Building which is the first building off the main parking lot. Produces over 20,000 bottles of wine a year including Carbernet Sauvignon Gewurziraminer, Carbernet Frank and both a dry and sweet Merlot.

The Citadel (Metsudah) – the highest point in Safed, Citadel park is situated in the center of town. It’s located on a hilltop and affords a great views of the mountains and, on a clear day, the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). You can walk around the remains of what was in its day the largest Crusader castle fort in the Middle East. It is also a great spot for a picnic.