Safed

Safed (Hebrew צפת Tzfat, Arabic صفد Safad, other English spellings Zefat,Safad,Tsfat etc.) is a city in the North District in Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2003 the city had a total population of 26,600 residents.

History

Safed is a city in northern Israel, that according to legend, was founded by a son of Noah, but was actually founded during Roman times. After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, many prominent scholars settled in Safed, which became the key center for Jewish mysticism, especially as Kabbalah. Many prominent Kabbalists made their home in Safed, including Isaac Luria. The influx of Spanish Jews made Safed a center of learning and trade in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the Middle East's first printing press was started in Safed in 1578. Earthquakes, conflicts with Arab neighbors, and plagues spelled a long decline for Safed, a decline accelerated after the 1929 Arab riots.

Related Topics:
Noah - 1492 - Kabbalah - Isaac Luria - 1578 - 1929

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Today, Safed has seen a resurgence of popularity, and has again become a center for Jewish learning. With quaint cobblestone streets, it has also gained a reputation as an artist colony.

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