Walking on air

Shabbat May 29th, Sfat 

Had a crazy weekend in Safed. We arrived Friday and I got to go to the artist quarter shuk. Totally love the art there. I was pretty impressed with myself for knowing how to get around the Old City. We stayed in a stunning apartment with a Gorgous balcony view. 

We kicked off Shabbat at a shul with Carlebach minyan. There were so many people there that we poured out into the street and it was just as loud. It was so nice to see the diversity of types of Jews at this shul. It's something you don't get everywhere. 

We had a bunch of le'chaims at dinner and passed out for the night. 

Shabbat day was great. We had a session discussing the layout of Israeli activism on our campuses and everyone gave their input. 

Later we were guided on a mystical tour of Safed. We went to places like Rav Yosef Kairo's beit midrash, a Abuav shul, dogs bearing the neshama of Rabbi Nachman, a scenic viewpoint of Tiberias, and finally the very spot where Kabbalat Shabbat was founded. Our tour guides stories were super lofty and lit to say the least. I really appreciate the fact that there are Jews like that in the world. The people that live here seem to be floating on a cloud. Their priorities are their spiritual growth and their reality is viewed from a special perspective. Although they may not be rich with money, they most definitely are rich with everything else. 

During our free time a bunch of us went to the citadel which is an old crusader fortress. I wish I had a picture but it looks like a domed cave with an oculus (hole on top) that lets in enough light to set the mood. When we walked in it was pitch black and we were able to hear the echo of a group of people singers. After our eyes adjusted we were able to see that they were a circle of chassidish yeshiva boys pouring their hearts out in song. We made an outer circle around them, they picked the playlist and we sang for at least a half hour. The chamber filled up over time and there were about 50 people inside just singing together. So cheesy I'm sorry but it was so nice to see such a diversity of people singing together. 

Afterward, I took a couple of friends and we made our way to my relatives apartment nearby. It was nice to catch up and meet their new baby. 

After a great seudat shili and havdala we got to have a kumsitz on a mountaintop. What's better than beer, a fire, a guy with s beard playing guitar, and some Bamba?

Stay tuned