In Upper-Galilee, 7 km. southeast of Ma'alot. A mixed Druze, Christian and Moslem village, settled by Jews since 2nd Temple Times, mentioned in the Talmud under various names. According to local tradition there has been unbroken Jewish settlement there from the Second Temple to 1989 CE when there was still one Jewish family in residence. Local tradition also claims that the synagogue (built in 1873 CE) was built with stones from the Temple itself. Stones of an ancient synagogue are incorporated. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is said to have hidden from the Romans in a local cave and wrote the "Zohar" there.

Rama

Christian and Druze village - Villages with Christian majorities include Eilabun, Rama, Kfar Yasif, Jish, Fassota and Ma'ilia in the Galilee.

Ramat HaGolan Winery

Guided tour. See the wines being made! Visitors invited to taste the selected vintages. Call to arrange in advance Sun.-Thurs. 8:30am-5pm. Fri. until 1:30pm. Tel: 06-6961646 / 6968435.

Reuben and Edith Hecht Museum, University of Haifa

View "Archaeology of Israel" and "Impressionism of Paris" (Monet, Pissaro, Van Gogh, et.al.). Hours: Sun., Mon., Wed., Thurs., 10am -4pm; Tues., 10am - 7pm; Fri., 10am -1pm Sat. 10 am to 2 pm. Admission free. Located at the University of Haifa, Mount Carmel. Tel: 04-8240308.

Rosh Hanikra

Visit the grottos and cableway at Rosh Hanikra. Self-service cliff top kosher restaurant, audio visual display, little train of Rosh Hanikra, souvenir shop, Moonlight Coffee Bar (in sum-mer). Tel: 04-9857109. 10km north of Nahariya.

Rosh Pina

"The mother of settlements in the Galilee" is located on he slope of mount Canaan, over viewing the Golan, Hermon and Hula valley and is a main rout in the Galilee. The easy access to all the attractive locations in the Galilee, the most beautiful area in Israel, has made Rosh-Pina a sought after site for settlement and tourists. A short trip and you are at the Jordan River, sailing or surfing at Lake Kinneret, or dipping in the healthy Hot Springs of Hamat Gader.

SAFED-ANCIENT SYNAGOGUES

The Sephardi Ari The oldest of Safed's synagogues, formerly known as Elijah the Prophet. Named for the Holy Ari in the 16th century. Tradition has it that the Ari studied with Elijah in the small, underground cave on the eastern side. Three Holy Arks are set into the thick southern wall with a colorful rose window above them.
Yossi Bana'a (The White Tzaddik) Named for the 3rd century Talmudic Sage whose tomb is reputedly in the room adjacent to the synagogue. A popular legend tells of the Rabbi's son who got the fig tree in the courtyard to bear fruit out of season in order to pay his father's workers. The son was punished and did not live out the year.
Alsheich Rabbi Moshe Alsheich, a contemporary of the Aft, lived and taught in Safed. This is one of the few buildings that survived the 1837 earthquake. One of the Torah crowns in the synagogue dates from 1434.
Yosef Caro This synagogue was built as a Beit Midrash and is said to have been tile study hall of Rabbi Yosef Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch, one of the most important interpretations of Jewish law. The building was destroyed in the 1837 earthquake but was restored by Yitzhak Guetta, together with three other Safed synagogues.
Abuhav Named for Rabbi Yizhak Abuhav, a 15th century Spanish Rabbi. According to tradition, he designed the synagogue while still in Spain, and his disciples built it when they arrived in Israel. The dome is decorated with the symbols of the Tribes of Israel and musical instruments. There are three Arks - the one on the right contains the Torah scroll reputedly written by Rabbi Abuhav and is only taken out three times a year.
Ashkenazi Ari Built after the Holy Ari's death, it was destroyed in the 1837 earthquake and rebuilt by the Italian philanthropist Yitzhak Guetta, as evidenced by the inscription above the entrance. In front stands a stone pillar with a fire pit for the old and sick on Lag Ba'Omer and for times of danger and siege.

MUSEUMS IN SAFED:
Beit Hameiri - Museum of Safed Heritage A restored historic building that houses a large collection of tools, utensils, books and documents illustrating Jewish life in Safed over the past 200 years. The museum staff operates educational activities and group tours. Open Sun - Thu 9 - 14. Fridays 9 - 13
General Exhibition of the Artists' Colony The exhibition is located in an old mosque built in 1901 and displays a large selection of paintings and sculptures by the 60 members of Safed's Artist Colony. Apart from the permanent exhibition there are also changing one-man shows. Open daily all year 9 - 18. Shabbat & holidays 10 - 14.
Safed Artists Colony - Artists were drawn to Safed and its mystical atmosphere long before the Artists' Colony was established. Mordechai Levanon and Moshe Castel settled here in the 1930's. Mordechai Shemi and Arieh Merzer arrived in 1947, followed by a wave o/artists who settled here after the establishment of the State. Today the Artists' Quarter attracts thousands o/tourists from all over the world, who come here to wander through the cobblestone alleys and to visit the artists in their studios and galleries.
The General Exhibition of the Safed Artists' Colony is housed in a mosque built at the turn of the century, with foundations dating from the Mameluke period. It represents the 50 painters and sculptors who are members of the Safed Artists' Colony.
In the large hall is an exhibition of all the artists' works, which changes twice a year. One of the side halls is/or one-man shows of Colony members and other artists, changing every 6 weeks. In another room is a collection of paintings and sculptures by members of the Artists' Colony who have passed away. It is possible to purchase original works of art as well as prints at the General Exhibition.
Museum of Printing - Safed, where the first printing press in Israel was established in 1576, is a fitting home for this museum. The exhibits include printing presses, rare books, maps and manuscripts. Open Sun - Thu 10 - 12, 16 - 18. Fri 10- 12
Yitzhak Frenel Museum Yitzhak Frenel (Fenkel) was one of the pioneers of Israeli art and a leading member of the modernist stream in the Ecole de Paris who taught generations of famous artists. The museum is housed in a picturesque old building and displays his paintings. Open March - Oct. 10 - 18
Israel Bible Museum Founded by the American sculptor and painter Philip Rather in 1984. The museum displays his works of art depicting scenes from the Bible. In the lobby are sculptures by Glitzenstein. The museum building is an imposing old Turkish, mansion with a beautiful view of the surrounding hills. Open Oct - May: 10 - 14, June - Sept: i0 - 16. Fridays 10- 13. Closed Sabbath. Closed all January.
Museum of Hungarian-Speaking Jewry the exhibits shed light on the material and spiritual life of the Hungarian-speaking community. Living testimony of hundreds of years of Jewish life. Included is an audio-visual presentation. Open Sun - Fri.

OTHER SITES IN SAFED:
The Citadel
On the highest hill in the center of the city, surrounded by a shady park are the ruins of it great citadel. It was originally built by Josephus Flavius, Jewish commander of the Galilee, as a stronghold during the rebellion against the Romans (66 - 73 A.D.). In the Middle Ages it was rebuilt several times. The Crusaders built their first citadel here in 1102. They lost it to Saladin but returned under a political agreement, rebuilding it to its immense dimensions: 252 m long, 112 m wide with towers reaching 26 m in height. The Mamelukes captured Safed after their sultan Baybars promised to grant the Crusader defenders their lives if they surrendered. He did not keep his word and a terrible massacre of the Crusaders and their allies took place. Baybars made Safed his regional capital. Building a 60 m high circular refuge tower in the Citadel. In 1799 Napoleon's troops captured the Citadel from the Turkish army for a short period. The 1837 earthquake destroyed the site almost completely. Although several underground halls seem intact but remain unexcavated.
Mameluke Mausoleum This building was erected in the 14th century as a tomb for Safed's Mameluke ruler Mufter e-Din Muse Abu Haj Eroktai, who died in 1372. Three Arabic inscriptions are set in the southern wall. Unfortunately the building may only be viewed from the outside.
The Red Mosque The sultan Baybars, in a style that evolved in Cairo built one of the oldest Mameluke structures in Israel, the mosque. Two Arab-Mameluke inscriptions are preserved on tile building, one marking its foundation in 1276 over the entrance; the other is a dedication from 1330 over the mihrab (niche indicating the direction of prayer).
The Sataye Built in the 18th century, it served as a khan and was later transformed by the Turks into a saraya (government house). During the Mandate, the British also used it as a government building. In the 1929 Arab riots: against the Jews, the entire Jewish population of Safed was forced into: the courtyard, ostensibly for their protection, while the Arabs looted their homes unhindered. After the establishment of the State, it was used as an old-age home until it was renovated and dedicated as the Isaac and Edith Wolfson Community Center.

Sassa

Kibbutz in Upper-Galilee on the northern road, near the Hiram Junction, within Kibbutz area - remains of a Talmudic era synagogue and other remains.

Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias, is a tranquil jewel surrounded by brown and purple mountains. In Hebrew it is called the Kinneret because it is shaped like a kinnor, or harp. The region offers breathtaking scenery and the largest lake in the country, at 13 miles long and seven miles wide. Poets and casual visitors alike find the Sea of Galilee to be among the most memorable and dramatic highlights of a trip north. Ask for special brochures in English with activities for the whole family.

Shefaram

Arab village in Lower Galilee, on the Acre-Nazareth road. Mentioned in the Talmud as a town to which the Sanhedrin was transferred. It was captured and fortified by the Crusaders. Jews returned after the Turkish conquest. A small Jewish settlement continued throughout the 19th century CE. Within the town area remains of ancient building, tombs from the Roman and Talmudic periods, and of a 17th century CE synagogue.

Sifsufa Moshav

In north Galilee, 3 km. north of Meron Junction. Remains of an ancient synagogue built into the mosque of an abandoned Arab village.

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