More spring in the holy Safed Cemetary

This view is looking out from the corner of the "tiyelet" towards the holy Ari's gravesite. The large blue monument with lots of people around it towards the enber of the image is the Ari's grave. There are many famous Jewish scholars, mystics, poets, and even a prophet (the prophet Hosea ben Beiri) buried in the Safed cemetary.

Some of us have children there, too.

On the horizon of the picture, you can see the flat hills, beyond which is Lebanon. We are actually, as the crow flies, only 15 km from the "Good Fence" passage from Lebanon.

As the season gets hotter, the green will gave way to brown. But for now, the new life of spring is abundant even in our holy cemetary.

Springtime in the .... cemetary

It's already the "yellow wave" of color here. Thick green growth covers the ancient cemetary of Safed right now, and the yellow of the mustard is the dominant color. The "red wave" of kalanit (anenome) has finished, with the red wave of poppy not quite in yet. Later, as the green dies down, there is a "purple wave" of various thistle blooms.

This view will be brown, maybe even blackened from small brush fires, by the time the Ari's hilulah comes around on 5 Av. Right now, it's grand spring colors.

Purim in Tsfat

In case you didn't see enough happy Jewish children enjoying Purim, I'll share some of the Tsfat views with you.

I think this was the first time in 11 years my kids didn't need to wear their coats on Purim. It rained on Shushan Purim, though. But then, we weren't in Jerusalem.

Not a Purim picture yet

I took this pictur before I bought a tripod. You can tell. It's a night pic from the stairs that lead down from the Old City to Meor Chaim looking towards Kiryat Breslov at night.

Lately, Kiryat Breslov is not totally lit up at night, so I haven't gotten a repeat shot now that I own a tripod. Ah, well.

Hopefully I'll have some quaint Purim pictures after Purim. Yesterday there were all sorts of cute costumed kids all over the city. It's a delightful time of year here.

Artist Quarter Bouganvilla and green fence

This is just one of many views of the beautiful spring colors here in Tsfat. This alley in the Artists Quarter is one of my favorites for odd pictures.

Center for the Blind

This building is being expanded even as I write this. I'll try to grab a picture of it when the new addition is finished. They're adding a new floor to the existing structure.

Down the street from here is the Old Hadassah Hospital, now the psychiatric wing of the Rebbecca Sief hospital. Across the street is the main post office and Yigal Alon Cultural Center.

The iron work gate is common in Tsfat.

Artist Quarter Corner

This view is of what used to be the Spier's studio, and is now Shaarei Bina Seminary. This is the back view, looking towards Kiryat Breslov.

One of the things I find interesting in photographing Tsfat is that the stones look really washed out and white in full sunlight. I've actually had more success with certain shots on cloudy days when the stones don't reflect so strongly.

The Palatine Hall

This is a view of the Palatine hall in the foreground. It sits on the hill just above the Central Bus Station. Behind that you see buildings belonging to the local branch of Bar Ilan.

View of Kiryat Breslov in Safed

This was taken from the stairs that go down the hill near the Or Yakar yeshiva looking in the direction of the cemetary. The older wall is part of the old shul, I think. In the upper right you see the bottom of the new synagogue of Nachal Neva Makor Chachma, the large Breslov shul in Safed. I really like the Magen David in the old window.

Pictures of Tsfat

Don't you love digital cameras? Tsfat is so beautiful, you could just take pictures all day.