Klezmer Fest, Part II

Visiting Tsfat during the latest Klezmer Festival, I took time off to wander through the town and to view falling stars.

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Klezmer Festival in Tsfat Part I

The three-day Klezmer Festival in Tsfat occurs each year in August. Musicians come from Europe, the States, and all over Israel to make music and fun. The music is  traditional Jewish – Ashkenazi and Sephardic. I love Tsfat, music, the night, and being in a happy crowd. We got all plenty of all that during [...]

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Hawthorn Afternoon

To forage for hawthorns, I traveled to Tsfat again last week.
In spring, I’ve picked the pungently sweet white flowers and made wine of them – have eaten the tender new leaves raw. But you have to wait till autumn to pick the little red berries, so like tiny rosehips. Right after Sukkot is the best [...]

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Hospitality

When we lived in Tsfat, we weren’t always sure who would be sitting down with us at Shabbat meals, or even how many. We had regular guests, occasional guests, and sometimes, uninvited guests. Over time, I learned to just cook a lot before Shabbat and have plenty in case of surprises.
Apart from people we ourselves [...]

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Tsfat, Part II

I remember walking around Tsfat one Friday afternoon in winter. It was daunting weather, rainy and windy. I don’t know what errand took me out to the street on a Friday afternoon, but I know I was cold, hustling along as fast as I could. Then in spite of the icy wind sneaking down my [...]

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At Last, Tsfat – Part I

Earlier this week I spent a day in Tsfat. Sefad. Zefat. There are more variations on the name of Tsfat, but Tsfat is Hebrew, so Tsfat it is for me. The hot afternoon was softening into cool evening, and the light was perfect for me and my camera. I was tempted to show you everything [...]

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Take Your Pick

All around my town in Central Israel, the trees have put forth luscious fruit. My own building’s yard has a lemon tree that gives more fruit than we neighbors know what to do with.
This year’s fruit is under Shmitta law still, so I haven’t harvested any. All the same, it’s a pleasure to walk around [...]

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