After a night of much needed rest at our hotel on the banks of the Kinneret, we got up bright and early to go to Tzfat to learn about Kabbalah and the generations of students who have studied there.  Our first introduction to the mystical side of Judaism was through art; in addition to being famous for the origins of kabbalah, Tzfat also is well known for its amazing artist colony.  We visited the home slash studio of David Friedman, one of the most respected artists in the city to get a glimpse into how Kabbalah has influenced him and his art.

The whole group was inspired by his teachings and how his paintings often included connections between all aspects of life. From the roots of tree of life to the infinite nature of pi (did you know 3 + 1 + 4 = 8, which is the sign for infinity rotated 90 degrees?)

After a brilliant presentation, we hopped back on the bus and took a hike on mount meiron overlooking the whole Galilee region. Because there we’re so few clouds in the sky, we were able to see Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon from what was once the tallest mountain in Israel.

Though we will have many more hikes to go on, this one was definitely special. After some falafel and shwarma for lunch, we headed back to Tzfat to tour the historic old city and spend some time shopping for Judaica. 

Now back at hotel, we just wrapped up an incredible game of Birthright bingo, an icebreaker that helps the participants get to know each other while also making them understand that each of their Jewish identities is indeed unique.

Ad machar,
Emilie and Joel