Day in S'fat

On Sabba Steve's birthday, we decided to have another adventure. This one had its own drama as we tried to exchange our rental car for another one that didn't have transmission issues....after over an hour of dealing with the rental car folks, we drove away in a bigger, more powerful car. We had a birthday lunch (Thai food) by the water of the Kinneret. We then drove up the mountain to S'fat. a mystical city high on a mountain overlooking the beautiful gallilean mountains.  It is usually a bustling city of chasidim and artists, but this day it was quiet in commemoration of fast day which leads up to Tisha B'Av, the mourning day for the destruction of the Temple.  S'fat is the home of Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the ARI. Two Synagogues in S'fat bear his name.

We visited the Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue, built in the 16th century, finished just after Rabbi Luria came to S'fat. It was in this Synagogue that he prayed, leaving the Synagogue for a nearby field where he and his disciples would greet the Sabbath. Today we sing "L'cha Dodi/ Come, My Beloved" to remember this event.

The ark of the Ari Synagogue was carved out of olive wood by an artist who had immigrated from Galizia. At the top of the Ark sits a lion (Ari) with a decidedly human face. We wondered whose face this is?