VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

Tzefat.From Above

This postcard gives us a birds-eye view of the town. We see how its location atop a mountain contributes to its historical prominence.

Old engraving.Jewish Quarter

This 19th century engraving says it shows the Jewish Quarter (of the many ethnic quarters in town). Much of the town is built on hillsides.

East & West Views

Views of East (top) and West (bottom) parts of the town.

Hillside View

Hillside view from the 1930s.

Old City Houses

Old city homes made of stone. We see balconies and the depression in the middle of the street where water would flow.

Marketplace

Market Street (below) leads to the market. Jews and Arabs mixed together here.

Peas Hashulchan.Title

Hundreds of the Vilna Gaon's students arrived beginning in 1808. Yisrael of Shklov (1770-1839) joined them and wrote Pe'at Ha-Shulchan (1836), which is a supplement to the Shulchan Aruch, supplying all the agricultural laws obligatory only in the Holy Land. This is one of only 7 books printed in Tzefat by Chassidic printer Israel Bak, before the devastating earthquake in 1837.

Peas Hashulchan.inside

Plagues and pogroms disrupted life, and printing, during those years. As the book's title page indicates, with the numerical value of (5)596, the book was printed in 5596=1836. After the earthquake, R' Israel of Shklov and also Israel Bak, the printer, moved to Jerusalem, where printing resumed in 1841 - the first printing press in Jerusalem's history.

Psak Din.Land.1884

This court document attests that Ms. Lifsha MS"G has sold home rights to R' Yaakov Kalish in 1884. Signed by 2 judges, including R' Hillel Alter Wexler. Also signed by the seller Lifsha MS"G.

Psak Din.Land.b

A similar court decision from 1884 attests that a certain R' Moshe who bought a house adjacent to that of R' Yakov of Kalish agrees not to make certain changes nor to deprive him of any rights he may have....

Joint Rabbinical psak.1929

A joint rabbinic council of Sepharadim and Ashkenazim functioned when this judgement was issued in 1929. Heirs to a property are arguing over a path giving access to a cellar. The council offers several solutions.

Synagogue.Yosef Karo

Built in the 1500s as Jews expelled from Spain arrived here, it was rebuilt after successive earthquakes. R' Yosef Karo, famed compiler of the Shulchan Aruch/Code of Jewish Law is associated with this place.

Synagogue.Ari.

The Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue, located in Safed, Israel, was built in memory of Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534 - 1572), who was known by the Hebrew acronym "the ARI". It commemorates R Isaac Luria (1534-72), a great kabbalist who arrived in Safed in 1570. The synagogue is known for its colorful and ornate Holy Ark. It may be the oldest synagogue in Israel that is still in use.

Synagogue.Abuhav

Another 16th century synagogue is called Abuhav, after a famous kabbalist. Also ruined by earthquakes, it has been rebuilt.

Synagogue.Yosef Bana

Another 16th century Sephardic synagogue, perhaps the oldest. It includes the tomb of the Talmudic scholar R' Yossi Bana'a. It too has been rebuilt after earthquakes.

Personal Correspondance.1892

Some residents of Tzefat worked in business or trades. This postcard mailed in 1892 is addressed in Turkish, in the old Arabic script. The name is obscure but the discussion is about sending quality merchandise for sale. The message is in Hebrew, written in Rashi script.

Personal Correspondence.Paris.1904

This postcard went to Paris in 1904. From parents in Tzefat, it expresses satisfaction that studies are going well for 2 sons. "Great that you are succeeding...it's not good for a person to remain among the (uneducated) beasts". Also mentioned are money matters. Your Father and Mother Shapira. In fine Hebrew script.

Shador to Cairo.complete.1893

Making a living was challenging. There was a constant effort to attract funds, for poor families and for institutions. This elaborate letter was issued to an official collector ('Shador') - R' Yitzchak Halevi, who was sent to Egypt in 1893. Signed by 6 Sephardic rabbis and endorsed in Cairo by its chief rabbi R' Rephael Aaron b. Shimon.

Shador Letter.top.1893

These letters typically open with elaborate headings and effusive praise for the community being addressed. Blessings are bestowed - in this case invoking the Holy R' Shimon bar Yochai of ancient legendary fame. The careful square and Rashi print used here was certainly the work of a trained sofer (scribe).

Shador.bottom.1893

The substance of the letter introduces the collecting emissary, R' Yitzchak ben Mordechai Halevi. Funds have dried up, families are suffering, and this scholar has left his books to work on behalf of the needy. 6 local rabbis signed, and 2 more from the Egyptian community. R' Yosef Ye'udah, R' Tziyon Hakohen, R' Yishma'el Hakohen, R' Moshe Yaakov. In Egypt R' Moshe Hakohen and chief rabbi of Cairo R' Rephael Aharon ben Shimon.

Funds Authorization.1894

The clearing house for donations in Amsterdam (Pekidim VeAmarcalim = פקוא"מ) issued this authorization to receive funds for the city of Tzefat. "We have authorized the banker in Beirut to pay 17 Francs and 5 Centimes which we received from Baron W.C. Rothschild through his agent...". Dated 1894.

Shador.North Africa.1919

This 20th century Shador letter is machine-printed rather than hand-written. It introduces R' Masoud b. Shimon as the collecting agent. It is right after WWI: '...Suffering has increased... donations have dried up... we don't know who to help first - widows, orphans, the hungry, or Torah students who live in poverty...'. Signed by 5 community leaders and stamped with the seals of the Sephardic Rabbinic Council and the Sephardic Kollelim.

Shador to North Africa

The top of the letter shows the Sephardic council letterhead, printed in gold. The 2nd line of text has the name of the recipient written in - Senor Yitzchak Hakohen. "Dear Brother, admirer of the Holy Land. It is beyond the power of the pen to describe what has happened to us in the recent terrible war ... We have been convicted by every sentence - plague, sword, famine, imprisonment, and plunder... .'

Shador.North Africa.Seals

Five Rabbinic signers include Yeshua ....., Aba Kohen, Aharon ben Shimon, Ezra ....., Nachman Abo. Each one ends his elaborate signature with the letters ס"ט (S"T) standing for Sefaradi Tahor (purebred Sepharadi) or perhaps Siman Tov (auspicious sign).

Small Donations.1923

This 1923 letter to R' Yehudah ben Shimol of Fez complains that the funds received from the whole community are hardly more than one man's donation and are entirely unsatisfactory. Signed by 5 Tzefas rabbis on behalf of the Sephardic community.

Yeshiva Beth Chasam Sofer

Among the institutions gathering funds for their upkeep was Yeshiva Beth Chasam Sofer. This envelope was mailed in 1911 through the Ottoman mail to Rock Island Illinois. No doubt it contained a printed letter asking for donations.

Pekidim & Amarcalim.1918

This envelope went from Tsefat to Holland in 1918 - in the midst of World War I. It is a bank envelope addressed to the 'Pekidim and Amarcalim'. They were the gathering place in Holland for European charity donations destined for the the Holy Land.

Shador.1920s.Orphans

This letterhead is from the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of Tzefat. Founded in 1919, the building is pictured. It seems pre-printed, in script, with the addressee's name written in Gold ink. Addressed to Dr. Levenshtein, it implores him to send aid for the orphans, in the name of R' Moshe Kohlenberg, director of the asylum. Folded in quarters to fit the common colored envelopes that were used to solicit donations around the world. Signed by Eliezer Segen, Yosef Tzvi Geiger & Chaim Lev Perlman. 1920s.

1922.Sepharadim.Arbitration

This letter on gold-printed stationery of the town Sephardic council, was sent in 1922. Responding to a complaint regarding someone associated with the council, the writer, Yeshuah Wa'ish (?) suggests that the 2 parties submit to arbitration to find a compromise. Written in Soletreo.

Tzedakah.Germany.1910

Individuals wrote to prominent leaders in Europe and America seeking donations. Juda Leib Schiffman writes to Rabbi Dr. Emmanuel Carlebach (1874-1927) in Cologne Germany. His dense Yiddish writing implores the rabbi to have mercy on his miserable situation.

Tzedakah.Switzerland.1911

This postcard went to Lucern Switzerland. It is a special postcard, printed by Jewish printers. The front displays a whimsical cachet of Tzefas, and Hebrew printing. The back starts with a Hebrew heading with 'B"H' ('with the help of G-d') and room for the month and date. "...Debts...high prices...Please do a mitzvah....". Mailed through the Turkish post in 1911.

1935.English to India.a

The Sephardic Council sent this letter in 1935 to the Jewish officials of Bengal, India. A small group, called the Organ Party, has falsely presented itself as organizers of the Safed community and obtained Indian donations for their own purposes. Please send all donations to the chief Rabbi Hacham Yeshua Palagi, who has been handling this for the last 37 years, and will see that the funds reach widows, the poor and the local institutions. Written in English.

1935.English to India.b

1935.English to India.c

Sephardic Council Receipt.1945

This receipt dated 1945 acknowledges receipt by the Sephardic Council of a donation of 33 Palestine pounds from Rabbi Uziel. The donation was apportioned among 4 recipient agencies. Seals of the Sephardic Council and the Sephardic Kollel. Signed by 3 rabbis: Shimon Chai Harush, Shlomo Ohana, and Sa'adia Ohana.

Keeping Shmitah.1938

1937-38, 5698, was a Sabbatical year ('Shmitah'). In such years the land in Israel is to lie fallow. That challenges religious farmers who make their living from the land. This letter from the Sephardic Council attests that Moshe Haim Deri is such a farmer and is observing all the laws. Such people were supported by welfare agencies. Signed by 5 rabbis: Yosef Hakohen, Shimon Harush, Ibo Halevy, Sa'adia Ohana, and Shlomo Ohana.

Meron

Meron was a village, largely Arab, west of Tzefat. Jews lived there near the Tomb of R' Shimon bar Yochai (RASHBI), an ancient sage and miracle worker. That tomb/synagogue - pictured here - is the site of major pilgrimage, especially on Lag B'Omer. Arabs fled in the 1948 War. There is an Israeli Moshav on the site today.

Meiron Tzefat highway

There is a 10 kilometer road that leads from Tzefat to Meiron. This receipt acknowledges a contribution of 25 Egyptian Piastres towards the building of that road. It is unused and undated but from the Mandate period. The image is captioned: 'The synagogue on the tomb of the holy Tana R' Shimon Bar Yochai in Meiron'.

Meiron.1930s.Orphanage

As the letterhead states, this document is from the Galilee Agricultural Orphanage in Meiron. Mordechai Maman writes to R' Palagi (of Tzefat) reporting that collection boxes for the 'Rashbi Fund' recipients are being stolen. He offers to take responsibility for collecting and delivering them, for a 15% commission.

Tzefas.Synagogue.Abuhab.a 001 (2)

Tzefas.synagogue.Abuhab.c. 001 (2)