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  • The Red Khan

    One of the nicest places to hold an event in Safed is the Red Khan. Originally built in 1276 by Baybars after the Mameluke conquest of the city some ten years earlier, it is one of the earliest buildings of its type in the country. However, it is not normally open to the public so usually the only way to get to see this magnificent building is to be invited to a celebration or attend a concert.

    Caravanserai

    The Red Khan

     

    Located on Tet Zayin street just past the Mameluke Mausoleum, built in the same period and style (1372), the building retains its imposing stone gateway. Above the carved wooden doors of the entrance you can still see the original inscription in the stonework. Initially run as a hostel or caravanserai for travelers and their animals in the 14th century by the Muslim Waqf, it was later also used as a mosque. However, little remains of the minaret which collapsed in one of the earthquakes, which also damaged part of the building. You can still look at the mihrab or wall niche with its religious dedication indicating the direction of Mecca for worshipers, inside in the main vaulted room.

    The Space

    From the outside street little can be seen, just the stone walls which face Mount Meron. However, when you step inside the gateway a huge courtyard is revealed as well as the vaulted hall. Inside, up to 400 people can be accommodated in summer by using both the courtyards and the vaulted hall. In winter, using only the inside space, the Khan can seat up to 200 for events and celebrations

    .

    With trees growing in the courtyard and the high vaulted ceilings of the main hall it is a delightful place to host a wedding or bar mitzva. It is extremely spacious and you can easily create a beautiful atmosphere. With plenty of room for music and dancing, you can still enjoy a conversation while you eat. It is also easy to divide into men and women’s sections should you wish to do so, and unlike more modern halls, there is usually no need to remove the tables to create dancing space. The Khan is also ideal for many other types of entertainment as it can be set up in a variety of ways and is often used for classical concerts.

    The Catering

    Although a kitchen is available, there is no catering company associated with the Red Khan’s management. This makes it is very flexible as it means you can choose your own caterer, or do it yourself, as you wish. The management of course supplies tables and chairs, gas, electricity and water, but all the rest is up to you.

    Non Profit

    As a non-profit organization, the management ploughs the fees back into the maintenance and renovations of the building. Hire charges vary starting at approximately 4,000 sheckles plus for a bar-mitzva, to around 6,000 sheckles or more for a wedding, depending on your requirements. Of course the Red Khan is also available for commercial events and enterprises at appropriate rates.

    Getting There

    Turning into Tet Zayin Street from Hanassi Street by the sign for the Rimon Inn there is plenty of parking space outside for your guests. It is also just a short stroll down the hill from the city’s main parking lot in front of the Saraya.

    For more information and to book the Red Khan contact: Zev Pearl  tel 054 545 9970

    or email zevpearl@walla.com

  • Baruch Adler

    If you want to find out what’s going on in Safed, Baruch Adler has his fingers on the pulse. He can usually

    Baruch Adler: Internet Cafe/Hotelbe found sitting outside his shop at 88 Jerusalem Street schmoozing with friends, giving information to tourists or helping someone log on t

    o the internet.

    But don’t be fooled by his casual manner, he is very involved with the community. As a Safed native, he seems to kno

    w everyone, even though he spent a large part of his working life traveling abroad for the government.

    Family History

    His Hassid great-grandfather came to Safed after the earthquake in 1837, sent by the Vishnitz Rebbe as part of a

    group to help rebuild the town and to build a synagogue – the Kosov. His grandfather ended up returning to Romania to find a wife, and his father was born there. After surviving the Shoah, his father made aliyah and asked to be settled in Safed. Baruch’s father became one of the first business people in Safed, opening a gas station. With few private cars around, the gas station soon metamorphosed into a “neft” (kerosene) supplier for heating and cooking,with an adjacent hardware store. His father ran this until the mid-nineties when Baruch came home to help his parents in their later years.

    Baruch’s Career

    After finishing school and yeshiva, Baruch did his military service. He then worked abroad for the government in a

    business capacity, returning when needed to do his miluim (reserve duty) serving twice in the Lebanon. Over the years he worked all over South America, the Far East and Australia picking up Spanish, Portuguese and English along the way to add to his Hebrew, Yiddish, Hungarian and Romanian. He can also get by in Arabic should the need arise.

    Internet Café

    On his return to Israel he took over his father’s premises and now runs it as an internet café and candy store. With six

    computer terminals and a fax machine he is able to offer tourists a way to keep in touch. You can book tickets, make confirmations, and check emails while having a coffee or a beer. You can also ask Baruch about what to see and do in Safed as he offers a voluntary tourist information service and even has that rare commodity – maps of Safed!

    Accommodation Agency

    If you are looking for a place to stay, Baruch can help with that too. He has 13 rooms available and although he has no receptionist or front desk, it feels more like a small hotel than a hostel. The rooms all have air conditioning, shower, toilet and a sm

    all kitchenette and the prices are very reasonable starting at 250shks a night midweek for a couple. As he also acts as an accommodation agency for other B&B’s and guest houses in the city, he should be able help you find somewhere to stay even at the height of the season. He is a mine of information about Safed and helps tourists as well as locals as much as he can.

    Politics

    Since moving back to Safed, Baruch has been very involved in local politics, helping to coordinate several mayoral campaigns. He wants to help Safed and the community in any way he can and is a member of the Civil Guard for which he does at least 4 shifts a month. So if you want to know the latest about Safed, Baruch Adler is the person to ask and in the unlikely event he doesn’t know, he’ll know who to ask

    Contact: adler1.4u@gmail.com

     or 052 344 7766 fax 04 692 0418

  • National And Local Government Offices

    Here is a list of the main national and local government offices to be found in Safed.

    National & Local Government Offices

     

    Rehov Weizman #6: In the building next to Supersol Big you will find the following departments:

    Finance Ministry

    For tax assessments and adjustments, income taxes, property taxes and all financial matters.

    Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 8.30 -13.00; Monday & Wednesday: 14.00-18.00

    Tel:04 692 9777

    For VAT (maam) registration, queries and filing you need to go to Tiberius

    Hours: Sunday -Thursday 08.00- 13.30    Address: 23 El Hadif Street, Tiberius

     

    Interior Ministry

    For registration of births and marriages, identity cards, passports, immigration, visa enquiries, etc.

    Hours: Sunday – Thursday 08.00 – 12.00; Monday & Wednesday 14.30 – 17.30

    Visas & Immigration: Sunday & Thursdays 08.00 – 10.30

    Tel: *3450

     

    Social Affairs Ministry

    Adult and Juvenile Probation Services

    Hours: Sunday – Thursday 08.00- 16.00

     

    Rabbinical Courts

    For marriage, divorce, conversions and religious matters requiring a Beth Din

    Hours: Sunday – Thursday 08.30 – 13.30

    Tel: 050 622 9124

    There is no civil marriage or divorce in Israel.

    If you are Jewish you need to apply to the rabbinical court for permission and to prove your status and eligibility for marriage.

    If you are of another faith you can have a religious marriage performed by your priest or cleric.

    If you wish to have a civil marriage you will need to marry abroad. Such marriages are normally legally recognized and can be registered through the Ministry of the Interior.

    Elsewhere

    Health Ministry

    For death certificates, licenses for relevant businesses, inoculations, and other health matters.

    Reporting rabid animals and for vaccinations against rabies.

    Rabies is a fatal disease with no cure and is endemic in Safed and Northern Israel. Children should be strongly discouraged from playing with or touching stray animals as even a scratch from a rabid animal can prove fatal.

    Household pets need to be inoculated against rabies.

    If you are bitten or scratched by a stray animal, it is important that you contact your doctor and the Health Ministr

    y as soon as possible for information and possible treatment.

    Henrietta Szold Street, opposite the Jewish Agency Offices.

    Hours: Sunday – Thursday 08.00 – 13.30

    Tel: 04 699 4222

     

    Betuach Leumi (National Insurance Institute)

    For all national insurance matters including contributions, unemployment benefits, disability, income support, maternity allowances, pensions, and new immigrant rights.

    100 HaPalmach Street, diagonally opposite the Yigal Allon Center, next door to the main Post Office.

    Hours: Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 08.00 – 12.30; Mondays & Wednesdays 15.00 – 17.00

    Tel: *6050

     

    Employment Office

    Yud Alef Street, off Keren Har Yesod

    Tel: 04 690 9111, or 1 599 599237 fax 04 692 3511

     

    Civil Guard

    Ordinary people who volunteer to assist the Police and Security Services in their duties.

    Aliyah Bet Street

    Tel: *9101 or 04 697 3200

     

    Police Station

    This is where to go for all your police needs, including payments of fines.

    Ha Galil Street, Har Canaan

    Tel: 04 697 8444. Emergency number: 100

    The Law Courts are next door.

     

    The Municipality

    For the Mayor, members of the city council, city social workers, and other municipal offices.

    Hours vary depending on the department.

    43 Jerusalem Street

    Information and Emergency no: 106

    City Taxes and Water rates

    For payments of city taxes (arnona), queries regarding discounts etc, and payment of water bills.

    1st floor, Mercaz Tzil, Aliyah Bet Street

    Hours: Sunday, & Tuesdays 08.30 – 12.30 & 16.00 – 18.00

    Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 08.30 -1300

    Tel: 04 692 3626/7 or 04 692 3773

    N.B. Phone offices to first to check that they are open. Don’t forget to bring all your relevant documentation, especially your teudat zehut (ID card) and a book to read in case you have to wait.

    For further information about any of the Ministries detailed above please see the relevant government department’s English language website.

  • The Bubba Meiser Tour

    City of Mysticism, City of Legends

    If the story of Paul Bunyan had been a Jewish story, say, a story about Pinchas Bunstein, it would have been known as a Bubba Meisa. Bubba Meisas are legends. Some probably have a kernel of truth, but have been enhanced and embellished through the years to a point that they make for great storytelling, but wouldn’t stand up for long in a historical court. Others are stories which are more soundly based on historical fact, but have been spun into story-form in order to make them more interesting.Buba Meiser Tour of Tzfat

    Buba Meisas form a great part of Jewish tradition, and anyone who wants to understand Jewish history and the history of the Jewish people must pay close attention to the thousands of Bubba Meisas which have persevered throughout the ages.

    In Tzfat, with its reputation as the City of Mysticism, this is doubly true. Bubba Meisas abounds. Some stories ar

    e well-known because they’re the bread and butter of most guided tours of Tzfat – Rabbi Yosef Caro sat with a Maggid, an angel, in the room below the present Caro synagogue  to write the famous 16th century Code of Jewish Law; the Davidka  rescued Tzfat during the War of Independence; the Rabbi at the Avritch/Bat Ayin synagogue  saved his congregation during an earthquake by foreseeing where it would be safe to stand; and others.

    Yet few guides know most of the real Buba Meisas of Tzfat. There are dozens, even hundreds of Tzfat folklore which not only provide an understanding of this spiritual and historical Jewish center, but also give one a more intimate feel and understanding of what Tzfat is all about.

    Touring Through Stories

    Haim Sidor is a veteran tour guide of Israel, specializing in the North, and more specifically, Tzfat. Any group that tours with Haim knows that their tour of Tzfat will occupy a good chunk of their day in Northern Israel, and that they will see and hear things that most other visitors do not.

    At one time Haim lived in Tzfat, and his heart is still in there…..he is well-known in Tzfat for his work in mapping out the tombstones in the Old Tzfat Cemetery. He leads his groups through the Old City, seeing the same sites as other tourists, but hearing, along with the historical facts, the Buba Meisas of Tzfat which make Tzfat come alive.

    Haim imbues his tours with the Buba Meisas about the great Rabbis of Tzfat, the destructions and rebuilding caused by earthquakes, and folklore surrounding great historical events. He also tells the stories about the simple people of Tzfat and how they lived together, coped together, and built Tzfat together. Haim can be seen often in Tzfat, walking through the old alleys and lanes of the city as he tells his stories in an animated manner which allow his visitors to not only hear the stories, but to connect to the people and the city in the sort of intimate way which is not open to all.

    Haim has begun to post his stories on the web in a “hub”. He can be contacted at hsidor@netvision.net.il

  • Supermarket Shopping

    It’s always useful to know where to find a supermarket when you visit a town so here is a little about the main sto

    Supermarket Shoppingres in central Safed. There are also other supermarkets and “makolets” (mini markets) in the various neighborhoods.

    Asulin

    Rav Chesed and Shefa Tov are the most central supermarkets for tourists staying in the Old City and Artists Quarter. They are locally owned by the Asulin family.

    They offer some store brand products like grape juice, and a wide selection of products with mehadrin hechshers. They also carry a range of Judaica items like tzitzits for the religious customer. They are friendly family run stores and go out of their way to help customers. However, because of their smaller size, they don’t have the wider choice of national supermarket chains. There is no parking nearby but both supermarkets offer a delivery service.

    Hours: normally from 8am to 8pm Sunday to Wednesday. Late night opening on Thursdays during the summer, and Fridays open till 2pm

    Closed during Chol Moed except Erev Chag (the evening of a holiday)

    Rav Chesed: 13, Jerusalem Street – Tel 04 699 9941

    Shefa Tov: 4, Aliyah Bet – Tel 04 692 1648

    Supersol Big

    Supersol Big is part of the Shufersal national chain. They offer a wide variety of products including American brands. They have a fresh meat counter, a delicatessen, a cheese counter, and an in-house bakery. The fresh fruit and vegetable section offers some exotic items while the chill cabinets hold a huge selection of dairy products. The freezer compartments offer everything from Chinese and Indian ready made meals, to frozen meat and chicken.

    They also sell branded household items; kitchen products such as crockery; and a variety of electric goods including heaters and televisions. The supermarket has its own security staff, offers a delivery service and there is a large car park.

    6, Weitzman Street, next door to the government offices. Tel 04 682 2099

    Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 10.00pm

    Friday: 06.30am to 3.00pm

    Shefa Shuk

    Located just below and to the left of the coffee factory, Shefa Shuk is another national chain supermarket. It offers a wide selection of store brand products, a good selection of fresh fruit and vegetables and has a deli counter. The fresh meat counter is especially busy on Thursdays and Fridays. The many frozen food cabinets offer everything from fish and meat to pizza and pastries with the dairy chill cabinet taking up the whole of the back wall of the store. A small in-house bakery offers cakes and pastries as well as fresh bread. The supermarket also sells a variety of household goods according to season, as well as some clothes and toys. There is an in-store ATM.

    There is a delivery service as well as a discount on a taxi service.

    Old Industrial Section Tel: 04 692 1858

    Hours: Sunday to Tuesday 8.00am to 8.30pm, Wednesday, Thursday 8.00am to 9.00pm, Fridays 07.30am to 2.30pm

    Bar Kol

    The newest supermarket in Safed, the Bar Kol supermarket is conveniently located in a brand new building near the Ma’or Haim neighborhood and will soon be accessible by a footpath from Keren Hayesod Street. The supermarket has a large fresh fruit and vegetable section, some American brand names and fresh meat and fish counters. Bar Kol aims to offer good prices and appeal to a “frum” clientele.

    There is a bathroom on the premises and the supermarket also has an ATM machine and a delivery service.

    Sahal 13, Tel 04 682 6315.

    Hours: Sunday & Monday 7.00am – 9.00pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 07.00am -10.00pm; Thursday 7.00am-11.00pm; Friday 7.00am – 1.30pm

  • Health

    In Israel health care is free for citizens and permanent residents. Health care is provided by four different health funds

    Health

    “kupot holim“. (You can change providers every six months.) Basic health care services, “the basket” are mandated by law.

    Ask any of the four health funds: Clalit; Leumit; Maccabi and Meuhedit for details of their coverage and other services offered or look at their websites for information about their supplementary services available for an additional fee.

    Tourists

    Check your health insurance policy provisions before you leave for Israel as tourists must pay for medical care, which may reclaimable from your insurance provider. Be sure to carry all the relevant documentation with you to Israel and take it with you to the doctor’s office.

    Many insurance plans require you to obtain prior approval for non-emergency treatment. This will usually require a

    phone call home to your insurance company. In a real emergency administrators will normally wait on the paperwork, and most plans require notification as soon as possible  after the emergency.

    Health Funds

    Meuhedit is considered to offer the most comprehensive service in Jerusalem, whereas Maccabi is considered to provide the best coverage overall in the rest of Israel. If you plan to stay outside of the main urban centers check which “kupa” has a clinic at your location as, for historical reasons, services on many moshavim and kibbutzim are only offered by Clalit and Leumit.

    Clalit

    Clait is the oldest and largest health fund in Israel, founded in 1911, it owns 14 hospitals, including the Schneider Children’s Medical Center, long term care facilities, and two psychiatric hospitals.

    Main clinic opens Sunday to Friday: Rechov Hanassi, next to the zoo. Tel 682 5555.

    Pharmacy on the premises.

    Leumit

    Leumit was founded in 1933 and has over 700,000 members nationwide. It is committed to preventative health care. Open Sunday to Friday.

    Main clinic: 1st floor Mercaz Tzil on Jerusalem Street; Tel: 04 684 9400

    Pharmacy on the premises

    Maccabi

    Maccabi offers insurance coverage to long-stay visitors. There is a 24 hour telephone advice service and you can receive after hours “house calls” if required, in addition to the normal services.

    Main clinic: Arosolov Street/ 72 Jerusalem Street at the bottom of the Bank Hapolim building. Tel: 04 692 0165

    Blood Testing available Sunday-Thursday 7.30am -10.00am

    Meuhedit

    Meuhedit has been operating since 1974 and offers alternative medicine clinics as well as regular medical services. There is free dental care for children under 12. As part of its other services, it also owns two hotels, available at a discount to members.

    Main clinic: Weitzmann 6, next door to Supersol Big; Tel 04 686 8111

    Partial pharmacy on the premises.

    English Speaking Doctors In Safed.

    Dr Yitzak Stern, a recent mayoral candidate, works for both Maccabi and Meuhedit, speaks English and has a private office. There are several other English speaking doctors at the various clinics. So before you sign up with a health fund, check that their doctors speak your language.

    Dentists

    Dental care at a discount is available through the kupot, as well as privately. Dr Harris is the best known English speaking dentist in Safed.

    Opticians

    There are many opticians in Safed, and the “kupot” have arrangements with particular opticians to offer discounted services.

    Central Pharmacies

    Pharmacies close early on Fridays and reopen Sunday morning so don’t forget to get medication or prescriptions filled before they close. Medicines normally have a minimum co-pay of 15% for “kupa” members when you show your membership card.

    Pharmacy Golan is at 39 Jerusalem Street, near the English library and at 92 Jerusalem Street, near the bridge, is Pharmacy Canaan.

     

  • Safed Transportation

    you don’t have a car you can still travel all over Israel – by bus and train.

    Safed Bus Station - Safed Transportation

     

    Buses — You can always call *8787 to receive centralized information about any bus route in Israel via Bus.Gov

    The Safed bus station is located at the entrance to Safed, at the junction between Yom Ha’atmaut Road , Jabotinsky Street and Jerusalem St. All of the buses within Safed and to and from Safed operate through the bus station, but there are bus stops throug

    hout the city for city buses and for many of the long-distance buses.

    * Nateev Express is the main bus company in Safed. Nateeve Express operates the local buses around Safed as well as the long-distance buses to Kiryat Shemona and Nahariya, Jerusalem, B’nai Brak and Haifa. You can call Nateeve Express at *3553 to get information about a specific bus line.

    * Connex/Afikim facilitates the Safed-Tiberius line. Call their help line at *6686 for assistance.

    At the Safed bus station, which is an outdoor station, all stalls have signs in English and in Hebrew.

    City Buses

    #3 to the Ibikur neighborhood

    #4 to Ramat Razeen

    #13 to Ivakor

    #10 and #11

    #6 & #7 is the bus to take to the southern neighborhood (“darom”) and to the Ziv hospital (runs approx every half an hour)

     

    Long-Distance Routes — Nateeve Express

    #982: Jerusalem – first bus is at 8:00, runs every 2 hrs on the even hour, return to Safed arriving on the odd hour.  The first bus is at 8.00am and the last bus is at 22.00pm.

    #980, 982 and 984: B’nai Brak

    #361 and 501: Meron, Carmiel, Acco and Haifa — travels every half hour throughout the day, last bus from Haifa to Safed leaves haifa at approximately 9:00p.m.

    #511: Safed-Kiryat Shmoneh

    #367: Safed-Ma’alot and Safed-Nahariya

    #43 Safed-Baram and Safed-Avivim

    #45 Safed-Dalton and Safed-Alma

     

    Tiberias – Connex/Afikim

    Take a trip to the Kinneret and to Tiberias.

    #450:Safed- Tiberius.

    Facilities

    Timetable information:

    The bus companies have up to date timetable information on their websites. It’s also easy to call the central bus authority at *8787 to ask for information about the bus that you need.

    Kiosk

    There are kiosks/cafés at the Safed bus station where you can get snacks, hot and cold drinks, ices etc.

    W.C.

    Towards the back of the Safed bus station you will find the public bathrooms up some stairs. Like most public bathrooms at bus stations they won’t win any awards, especially as they are not accessible to people who have walking difficulties, and they cost 1shk.

    Bus Transfers

    Discounted bus travel and discounts on two-way trips are available ONLY if you have a Rav Card. You can obtain

    your Rav Card at the information booth at the central bus station. The card itself is free and you can then “load it up” with credits for your discounted travel. The Rav Card is accepted by all bus companies in Israel.

    Taxis

    Taxi companies in Tzfat to call for a taxi: 04-6970707

    04-6822226

    Train Travel

    The nearest train station to Safed is in Acco. The train station is located directly across the street from the bus station, enabling you to take the bus to Acco and then continue your journey on the train.

    From Acco you’ll find trains to many cities along the coast and into the South including Haifa, Tel Aviv and Beersheva. The train also travels directly to Ben Gurion airport from Acco. It’s worthwhile to be aware that, while the train travels to the Acco station until very late at night, the last bus traveling from Haifa/Acco to Safed passes through Acco at approximately 10:00p.m.

  • Eshel Binyamin Soup Kitchen

    Colel Chabad

    One of Tzfat’s oldest tzdekka (charity) organizations dates back to 1788, when Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the

    Colel Chabad--Soup Kitchen Safed

    founder of the Chabad/Lubavitch Hassidic movement, directed his followers to establish Colel Chabad.

    Colel Chabad is a charity which provides food and other social programs for needy families and individuals. Rabbi Schneur Zalman assured his followers that anyone who contributes to Colel Chabad will be rewarded, and through the years, hundreds of thousands of Chabad followers and well-wishers have allowed Colel Chabad to grow into one of the largest Jewish charities in the world.

    In Tzfat, the Colel Chabad soup kitchen and food bank is run by Rabbi Zeev Crombie who has been expanding the op

    eration for many years. Colel Chabad/Eshel Benyamin began in the Old City of Tzfat, serving daily meals to needy residents. Eshel Binyamin serves a hot noon meal daily, and gives their “customers” packages of food to take home for their other meals. Shabbat and holiday meals are served in a festive manner, with the Eshel Binyamin staff on hand to facilitate a holiday atmosphere and to offer some words of Torah learning.

    No one is ever turned away from Eshel Binyamin, including street people and those with mental and emotional difficulties. Eshel Binyamin prides itself on making each person feel wanted, and many people come to Eshel Binyamin for the spiritual warmth as much as for the food.

    Expanding Projects

    Due to the increased need, Eshel Binyamin has now opened a second soup kitchen in the Cana’an neighborhood of Tzfat, which has an aging and low-income population. The meals are cooked in the old Pisga hotel on Har Cana’an, and delivered to the homes of those who cannot manage to get to either of the soup kitchen branches. Volunteers often assist the staff at Eshel Binyamin, cutting and peeling vegetables and assisting in various ways. These volunteers are vital to the operation, and the staff is always pleased to have volunteers on the premises.

    Several years ago, when it became known that schoolchildren in Tzfat were coming to school without their mid-d

    ay sandwich (in Israel, it’s traditional for children to have a 10:00 sandwich in lieu of before-school breakfast) because their homes couldn’t provide them with the food, Eshel Binyamin accepted the challenge of helping. Now, throughout the school year, Eshel Binyamin prepares hundreds of sandwiches, which they then deliver to the elementary schools and kindergartens for the children who “forget” to bring their ten o’clock snack. The gratitude of the parents and children is matched by that of the staffs at the schools, who had been overwhelmed by hungry children in their classrooms.

    The numbers of Tzfat residents who thank Eshel Binyamin for keeping them going is astounding. Some people are permanent “guests” of Eshel Binyamin, and many more need the services of Eshel Binyamin during difficult times. But one thing is certain – Eshel Binyamin is always there, ready to help all those who need them.

    Contributions to Eshel Binyamin may be made by contacting their main office at 972 4 6821090.

  • Beit Yael

    Center for the Advancement of the Blind

    Today, we take it for granted that Western society provides for people with special needs. While there is always room for improvement in the services that are provided to challenged and disabled individuals, the situation is much better than it was in the past.
    Center for the Advancement of the Blind

    Yael Ben-Dor was a visionary who saw the importance of integrating individuals with various disabilities and limitations into society at a time when few people thought about such things.

    Dr. Ben-Dor escaped from Nazi Germany in 1934, relatively early in the Nazi regime, but late enough to have seen the devastation and destruction that the Jews were suffering.  She and her brothers made their way to Palestine, and Dr. Ben Dor began to practice her specialty of obstetrics and gynecology in the North. At the same time, she taught first aid to the Jewish underground fighters of the Hagana , and did everything that she could to help the State of Israel become

    a reality, participating actively in the battle to liberate Tzfat.

    As the years progressed, Dr. Ben Dor saw that many people, especially adolescents and young people, were struggling with emotional and psychological issues which complicated their lives. She began to meet with these youngsters at the local community center, and slowly started to raise community awareness of the needs of these young people.

    Creating a Program for the Visually Impaired

    By the 1970s, Dr. Ben Dor’s field of interest was turning towards the needs of the visually impaired. She began programs in the Tzfat Community Center which were aimed at creating and improving the skills of visually challenged individuals

    which would allow them to integrate as fully as possible into society. As time progressed, her small program turned into The Center for the Advancement of the Blind in Tzfat, and a generous grant from a Canadian foundation allowed her to build an independent Center, giving a full-time staff the space and time to assist the people who began to come to the Center.

    As Beit Yael writes on its website: “One of the major philosophies behind Beit Yael’s work is that the vision impaired must be comfortable in their own environment in spite of their limitations.” Towards this end, Beit Yael invites visually challenged individuals from throughout Israel to come to Tzfat to participate in their programs. While Beit Yael’s ultimate goal is to help the visually impaired integrate into the seeing society, they also recognize that people with vision problems need to spend time with others who have the same limitations and challenges, in order to strengthen their self-image and ability to develop the skills necessary to function in a seeing society.

    Programming for All

    In addition to the basic programs that Beit Yael runs to give visually impaired individuals the opportunity to ma

    nage their own lives independently and function effectively, Beit Yael also runs:
    *a Senior’s Club for visually impaired seniors
    *Summer Camps for visually impaired children
    *Residential Rehab, for the newly-blind or people who are becoming blind
    *Vacation Camps for visually impaired adults
    *Computer Lab to teach computer skills to the blind
    *A Gym
    *Horseback Riding

    Western society has come a long way in recognizing special needs, but in Israel, the best address for helping visually impaired individuals adjust to a seeing society and develop the skills necessary to function in that society is Beit Yael in Tzfat.

    To contact the Center, call 04-6920445-6 or write to info@beityael.org

  • Shabbat Hospitality in Tzfat

    Visiting Tzfat on Shabbat

    Tzfat is a tourist town.  The combination of Tzfat’s location on a mountaintop with a stunning view of Israel’s Galilee, it’s quaint cobbled lanes and stone buildings, its history, religious sites and art galleries have come together to make it an obligatory stop for t

    Shabbat Hospitality in Tzfatourists in Israel.

    There are dozens of hotels, hostels, guest houses and other options for accommodations in Tzfat. Guests who prepare for a stay in Tzfat on Shabbat either bring food with them or arrange to eat at a hotel dining room, as no groceries or eateries are open on Shabbat in Tzfat.

    However, many visitors, especially young tourists who are not aware of the Shabbat atmosphere and restrictions on commercial trade during Shabbat. arrive at their lodgings with no plans for their Shabbat meals.

    This is the point that Shabbat hospitality comes into play. Hundreds of families throughout the city are known for their

    willingness to host guests for Shabbat meals. They are called, often at short notice, by organizations, institutions and individuals who work throughout the week to “set up” visitors for Shabbat meals.

    Army-like Precision and Organization

    The ASCENT institute is one such organization, which calls host families throughout the week to arrange for Shabbat meal accommodations. People phone ASCENT during the week to announce their plans for a Shabbat in Tzfat, and to ask if they can be hosted for meals.

    ASCENT’s staff works with army-like precision, going through their lists to find each visitor a host family for the Friday night dinner and Saturday lunch. They make sure to match the guests up with families who speak the same language and, especially for guests who are unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism, with families who are easy-going and adept at making guests feel welcome.

    Guests are sent out in pairs, armed with instructions of which time the family will be eating, their address, and a map of Tzfat.  Even so, people get lost, and it’s not uncommon to hear of guests who turned up at their host family at dessert-time.

    Other organizations in Tzfat arrange for home hospitality for their program participants, such as the Livnot U’Leh

    ibanot Israel Program. Livnot participants usually write on their evaluations that their interactions with their Tzfat hosts were the highlight of their program, and many have been known to stay in touch with their hosts long after their program finishes.

    Students at local yeshivas and seminaries also enjoy making the rounds of the homes, and, obviously, some homes (and some cooks) are quite preferred!

    Some unusual stories have come about as a result of home hospitalities. One young woman was hosted in Tzfat by a family that she found out, years later, were her cousins. Matches have been made among the people sitting around Shabbat tables as well.

    One of the most unusual stories took place when the conversation at one Shabbat table turned to talk about the music scene, and eventually, discussion of various bands. The people sitting around the table began to discuss the Grateful Dead – it turned out that both the hosts and the guests were fans.

    One of the guests declared that he had once attended a concert of the Grateful Dead “which was so weird…there was a couple that got up on stage at the concert and got married there!” The hosts looked at each other and then admitted “that was us”.