Mysticism, Art and Organic Farming

Day 5: Tsfat and Biobee

 

          After leaving the Kfar Blum Pastoral Hotel, we drove to Tsfat. Tsfat is one of Israel's four Holy Cities, along with Tiberias, Hebron and Jerusalem. It has been the center of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) for hundreds of years, since the end of the 15^th century.

It is also the site of an artists' colony.  It is located in the mountains not far from Mount Merom where some believe that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai spent years in a cave.

We started the visit by going to the studio of Sheva Chaya, a charming and talented glassblower and painter.  After graduating Princeton with a degree in fine arts she became a ba’alat teshuva, adopting an Orthodox Chabad lifestyle. She discussed how her art is expressions of faith. She treated us to a glassblowing demonstration, and then we looked around her studio at her biblical-themed paintings and glass objects such as Mezzuzot. She focused her art on moments of hope often using biblical. I found it particularly fascinating seeing paintings of Jerry Garcia, Shlomo Carlbach, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe Schneerson.

From there, we went to the Caro Synagogue to learn more about some of the early Kabbalists and their beliefs.  The synagogue contains some very old books and Torah scrolls.  One is no longer able to see the scrolls as they are locked in the Aron Kodesh for their protection.  

 

 

Uri described Joseph Caro as both a mystic and a disciple of the Ari, Rabbi Isaac Luria, whom he asked to plant his feet firmly on the ground.  Caro wrote the great code of law, the Shulchan Arukh, the Set Table.  When we visited the synagogue of the Ari, Uri spoke to us outside in a small courtyard and described his approach to mysticism and his great love of Shabbat. In the past we saw the Elijah’s chair but now it was behind a table in a corner of the room.

Finally, the group was turned loose to browse and shop in the lovely artists' shops. We definitely supported the Israeli economy this morning!

Our journey from the Galilee to Jerusalem continued south after Tsfat to Kibbutz  Sde Eliyahu, (the Fields of Elijah) near the border with Jordan south of the Kinneret. Sde Eliyahu is yet another variation on kibbutzim, closer to the socialist model, with communal sharing of resources and expenses, than the other kibbutzim we have visited. It is also a “Religious Kibbutz, but the orthodoxy is not extreme and some of the women wear pants and do not cover their hair after marriage.  Here, Kibbutz members live in homes owned jointly; their children are cared for (from morning to late afternoon) and educated in facilities on the kibbutz. Nonmembers live in private homes just across the road from the kibbutz. The kibbutz engages in organic farming, producing vegetables such as cabbage, and fruits from date palms on the property. Barn owls and falcons, instead of pesticides, keep mice from eating crops; donkeys  provide weed control 

between palm trees. Bio-Bee Biological Systems is an expert in the mass production of bees and other insects for organic agricultural purposes throughout the world. We learned from our guide, an Israeli woman from Denmark, of collaboration with Jordanian and Palestinian farmers, teaching them these advanced ecologically friendly forms of farming.

Our drive from Sde Eliyahu to Jerusalem was south through the Jordan Valley, in the territories.  We bypassed Jericho and then ascended to Jerusalem.  We drove to the lookout promenade on Mount Scopus and gazed down upon the Old City.  We made Kiddush, said the Shehechiyanu, read a couple of poems and sang Yerushalayim Shel Zahav.  This is a classic way of groups arriving in Jerusalem.

After checking in to the Dan Panorama Hotel people found places, most nearby, for dinner.  Another great day.  

 

Thanks go to Rebecca Drayer and Sarah Liebschutz for their asistance in creating tis post