Safed

צְפַת‎‎
صفد‎

Hebrew transcription(s)

• ISO 259

Çpat

• Translit.

Tz'fat

• Also spelled

Tsfat, Tzefat, Zfat, Ẕefat (official)

Logo

Safed

Coordinates: 32°57′57″N 35°29′54″E / 32.96583°N 35.49833°ECoordinates: 32°57′57″N 35°29′54″E / 32.96583°N 35.49833°E

District

Northern

Founded

Bronze Age

Government

• Type

City

• Mayor

Ilan Shohat

Elevation

900 m (3,000 ft)

Population (2015)

• Total

33,358

Website

http://www.zefat.muni.il

Safed (Hebrew: צְפַת‎ Tsfat, Ashkenazi: Tzfas, Biblical: Ṣ'fath; Arabic: صفد‎‎, Ṣafad) is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of 900 metres (2,953 ft), Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and in Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters. Since the 16th century, Safed has been considered one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias; since that time, the city has remained a center of Kabbalah, also known as Jewish mysticism.

Due to its mild climate and scenic views, Safed is a popular holiday resort frequented by Israelis and foreign visitors. In 2015 it had a population of 33,358.

Legend has it that Safed was founded by a son of Noah after the Great Flood. According to the Book of Judges (1:17), the area where Safed is located was assigned to the Tribe of Naphtali. It has been suggested that Jesus' assertion that "a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" may have referred to Safed.

Safed has been identified with Sepph, a fortified town in the Upper Galilee mentioned in the writings of the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus. It is mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud as one of five elevated spots where fires were lit to announce the New Moon and festivals during the Second Temple period.

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