Safed

Though Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's Cave is noted in the Midrash, the builder of the revered tomb's structure is a story waiting to be told, as it was during his lifetime.

On his 1839 visit, Moses Montefiore envisioned leasing land from Egypt's ruler to develop Jewish agricultural settlements in what is now Israel. Discover his ambitious plans for 200 villages!

In 1809, the first group of the Vilna Gaon's students, led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, embarked on a perilous journey to Israel. They withstood a grueling year-long sea voyage before settling in Safed.

Once a thriving Jewish community with 300-400 families in Jerusalem faced heavy taxes and persecution, making expansion difficult. Despite this, dedicated efforts by Jerusalem's Jewish residents attracted scholars and fueled a renaissance in nearby Safed during a time of relative peace.

Discover the fascinating history behind Tzomet Somech near Shefa-Amr in the north of Israel, a site steeped in ancient tradition and resistance.

Where did the Beit Yosef, Rabbi Yosef Karo, live? In Safed. We know he was born in Spain and fled with his father during the Spanish Inquisition. But where was he in between, and why did he venture to an uninhabited land like Israel?

In the dead of night, while the terrorists guarded the tomb, the fighters arrived from behind, placing a great amount of dynamite in the sheikh's house at the village center, and then vanished into the darkness.

Visitors to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's tomb encounter a small display case holding a piece of an ancient olive tree labeled "Idra Tree." What's the story behind it, and how does it connect to Rabbi Shimon's mystical Idra?

Rabbi Yeshayahu Pinto urges anyone with information about the fate of Elijah, the doctor from Safed, to come forward. Will the truth be uncovered?

In 1837, one of the most devastating earthquakes hit the Jewish settlement in Safed. Its estimated magnitude was 7.0, claiming around 7,000 lives. Discover the full story behind this tragedy.

Legend has it that the Ari regularly immersed in the sacred mikvah in Safed. On the eve of his passing, he requested that his body be washed there. Miraculously, during the burial preparations, he stood up to immerse himself.