More Doors of Safed Old City

I hadn't seen this one before. A couple of galleries moved here, which is right across from "Gan Hakasum", the Enchanted Park. When our kids were little, we used to call it "suicide park" due to rock structures and sharp inclines.

Anyway, a couple of galleries moved in, and this lovely doorway leads into a courtyard with scultpures, artwork, and a cafe. Some beautiful works of art there. Coming back out, the door is just as lovely:

Happy Hannukah from Safed!

May your Hanukka be bright and light and fill you with inspiration!

Kitty Cat in Safed

The life of a cat in the Old City!

Fall grape leaves, snoozing in the sun. Truly a cat's life.

Winter is late...

A few images of the last few weeks.

Some stunning days of clouds and sun.





















That's the view...












And on a sunnier day in the Artist's Quarter. You have to admit, painted utility cabinets are lovely.

Jordan Valley views

No pics of sukkah or lulav today. I got a cold on Shabbat, and am tired and weak. The days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot I had work reasons to go to Jerusalem, and snapped these shots.

The one with the bouganvilla is at a rest stop in the Jordan Valley. I always marvel at how much the Samarian hills look like Mars this time of year.

The moonrise was on the way home and is a view east towards Jordan. The might Jordan mountains at sunset/moonrise.

Green Olives in the Holy Land

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. (Psalms 52:8)”

May everyone's year be fruitful and blessed.

Olives are an amazing fruit. While bitter and almost inedible right from the tree, when pressed their oil is prized around the world. When soaked and rinsed and then cured, their fruits can be as varied as black salty olives to tart green olives.

How great the wonders of the olive.

Elul growth for High Holydays

These palm fronds will probably be cut right before Sukkot. The lovely summer growth is perfectly timed for providing schach for the mitzvah of Sukkah. Ah, Elul days leading to the High Holydays.

If only I had time to really reflect. Just call me a working stiff.

Kever Ari at twilight

Took this picture as the sun set into darkness. The gravesite of the Arizal was hopping even at that time of day. You have to admit, in Tsfat, even the graveyard is beautiful.

Tourist Season in Tsfat

The tourist buses are a welcome sight in Tsfat. While the average tour bus only stops for less than 1/2 hour in Tsfat, which is a pity, it does help the local economy and lifts spirits to see folks visiting our little town.

Here's a couple of shots from above the main bus parking area. You see the General Exhibition in the top photo, renovated from an old mosque. In the bottom photo you can see a tourist group walking towards the Old City. There are two alleys leading into our little mystical Old City. Some people take the path less travelled...

Summer Grapes 2007

In the Old City especially, the grape vines are like living poetry.
There's something that calls out to take a picture when you see the ripening grapes.

May we see them ripen in peace...

Tsfat Alleys

Behind the Rimmonim Inn in the Artists Quarter. Notice the oddly blue painted light covers. I dunno. Down the alley a bit further are some painted orange.

Iyar in the Gallilee

Looking South from Meor Chaim neighborhood. Looking West from Mt. Canaan.
The hillside behind Tsahal. Love those colors.

Every day is a treat for walking to work in this beautiful place.

Adar in Tsfat and Jerusalem

Oh, just too busy to blog.
This last weekend we were in Jerusalem, so a pic of the soldiers at the Western Wall.
Then back up to the Galilee for the green green green that only happens in the Hebrew month of Adar.

Winter Sunset in Tsfat

Sunset over Meron and the mountains on the way home from work.

Spring is springing in Safed

Signs of spring plants are springing up.I snapped these pics on the way to work.

This is Shepherd's Purse. The heart shaped leaves are the source of its name. Shepherds often went about their day with pouches shaped like these leaves.

Shepherd's purse is good for what ails your blood system, and for lots of female troubles. The activity dies quickly, so if you pick it, tincture it up the same day. Put it in a brown glass bottle with 45-50% alcohol (I get that nasty 95% cooking alcohol and dilute it in half with distilled water), and let it sit for about two weeks. Then filter off the tincture to a clean brown glass bottle. Helps with stopping bleeding.

This is plantain, plantago lanceolata. Edible, mucilageonous. Great for skin abrasions, also for homemade cough syrup, oil infusions against pain, and more. Infuse it in olive oil with garlic for homemade ear drops.

Day trip from Tsfat to Nahariya

I love Nahariya. It's an easy drive from Tsfat, and the sea air is a welcome change from the hills on occasion.