The most eccentric and mysterious land in the world
40 years ago, Daniel Flatauer came to Tzfat (Israel) for a few days of sightseeing, before going to Japan to search for the mystical, but he never left again.
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For many years, Tzfat, a city high above the Sea of Galilee, was a popular destination for tourists, mostly from Tel Aviv, seeking respite from the scorching summer sun. As a result, it also attracted gamblers, prostitutes, and artists.
Through all the changes of time, people still believe that Tzfat is a "thin place". The Celtic term implicitly compares the city to a place where heaven and earth meet - where heaven and earth are closest, people feel light and relaxed. Many tourists, with that belief, when coming here, always feel the sacredness that is difficult to describe in words.
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Daniel Flatauer, a traveler from England, has a hobby of exploring mysterious things. 40 years ago, on his way to Japan to learn about mysterious things, Daniel visited here for a few days. But in the end, he never left. He said he found what he wanted in Tzfat. Journalist Eric Weiner told the BBC that every time he came to Tzfat, he felt an unexpected tranquility. Tzfat is not exactly heaven, but the atmosphere here is really gentle, serene, and unhurried. "It's a place where you visit for a few days, but feel like you've lived a whole life." And even the cemetery here, people feel the sacredness when every day they welcome groups of pilgrims to pray for the graves.
Kabbalah, the mystical arts of ancient Judaism, flourished in Tzfat for centuries. When Spain expelled the Jews in 1492, a number of them settled there. Among them were the Kabbalah scholars of this famous sect. Tzfat was not the birthplace of Kabbalah, but it was the place where it flourished and grew, gaining vitality and surviving to this day.
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The essence of Tzfat is tradition and eccentricity. Those who live here do not feel burdened by not following the norms of life. This is where they come to escape the strictures of Orthodox Jerusalem or the secularism of Tel Aviv.
Tzfat is also a popular tourist destination. But there are no tourist services throughout the city. There are only a few hotels and mediocre restaurants. Unique or luxurious places are very few.
"Tzfat has its own charm, and where heaven and earth meet, there is no need to embellish it," said a tourist.
Tzfat (also known as Safed)To bea city innorthern regionIsrael, located at an altitude of 900 m. It is the largest city in Galilee, Israel. Due to its geographical location, Tzfat has cold, humid summers and snowy winters. Since the 16th century, it has been considered one of the four holy cities of Judaism, along withJerusalem,Hebron andTiberias. Becausetemperateandscenic spots,SafedTo bea tourist areafamous resortregularly ofIsraelisand touristsforeign. |
According to VNE
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