A. Tsfat (Safed) and Area |
| Tsfat
Guide 1 | Lots of interesting links and informational tidbits
from Laurie Rappeport, who knows everyone and everything in Tsfat. |
| Tsfat
Guide 2 | An excellent resource page from the Tsfat Brezlavers. |
| Tsfat Guide 3 | Many
nice photos and a variety of links. This private site is more complete
than the official one of the municipality. |
| Machon
Alte | All women's seminary in the Old City for studying
Judaism and chasidut-chabad. |
| Shalom
Rav | Men's yeshiva with the friendly, relaxed atmosphere
of old city Tsfat. |
| Tzadik
Center | A thrilling and educational model of the Third
Temple, right around the corner from Ascent (actually, in the old Ascent building!) |
| "Tree
of Life" prayer stand | Designed and crafted by Ascent
friend, Noah Greenberg If just one costs $54,000, it has to be worth looking
at. At Ascent you can get a live demonstration. |
| Nehora
Press | Amanda Cohen is an author and lecturer on
Kabbalah, particularly the "Sulam" commentary on the Zohar. Book and
tapes available. |
| Simply
Tsfat | One of Tsfat's and Israel's most popular
music groups. They started here in Ascent! (As did a number of others,
including Aharon Raziel.) |
| Beirav
| The "official" Carlebach shul in Tsfat,
and lively and fun not just on Friday nights. |
| Ora
Gallery | The work of veteran Tsfat artist Yaakov Kazcemacher,
formerly known for his Jewish geometric canvesses, and now for his extraordinary
photographs of Tsfat and chasidic life. |
| Kosmic
Kabbalah | David Friedman is a student, teacher and
artist of Kabbalah, and occasional guest lecturer at Ascent. |
| Gallery
of Mystical Art | an exhibition of the works of Tzfat
artist Avraham Loewenthal, contemporary paintings inspired by concepts
from the Kabbala. |
| Moshe
Chaim | A mad artist and candle sculptor, with other talents
too, Moshe-Chaim Gress did the graphic design for many Ascent posters and
illustrated most of the Ascent Quarterly "Comix". |
| Sheva
Chaya | Sheva-Chaya Shaiman, a resident Tsfat artist. |
| Tsfat
Weather | Including daily projections for fifteen
days. |
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B. Kabbalah |
| Kabbala
Online | Produced by Ascent-of-Safed. One of the largest,
most comprehensive and authoritative Kabbalah sites on the Web. |
| Gal Einai | The
site of the pre-eminent English-speaking Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh.
A huge resource covering an enormous amount of mystical topics, both theoretical
and applied. |
| Geula | Pathways
to the Ultimate Redemption, featuring the holistic Torah teachings of Rabbi
Avraham Sutton. |
| Fiftieth
Gate | Publishers of books and tapes on kabbala, chassidut
and Jewish mysticism. The website also features interactive kabbala classes by
tele-conference with Rabbi Moshe Miller, respected writer and translator. |
| Iyyun | Writings
and teachings of Rabbi DovBer Pinson, the dynamic head of the Iyyun Institute
and the Jewish Learning Annex in Brooklyn. The sections on "Kabbalah"
and "Holidays" are especially worthwhile, as are his four published
books. |
| Arizal.org | Classical
source texts, kabbalistic music and videos, and an online study hall where people
can discuss ideas and learn. Some but not total emphasis on the teachings of the
holy Ari of Tsfat. |
| Torah
Bits | Rabbi Melech Dubrow's website includes an
online book on spiritual ascent according to Jewish kabbalistic principles. |
| Kabbalah
Toons | From the Jewish Infinity blog. A A zany yet accurate
video cartoon presentation of some major themes in Jewish mysticism. (Click on
"Watch this episode".) Powered by the mind-soul of Tzvi Freeman. |
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C.
Chabad Chasidut |
| Chabad
Online | Comprehensive Chabad site and one of the largest
Jewish learning sites on the internet, featuring daily and weekly study materials,
opportunity to ask a rabbi your questions, information about Chabad, the Rebbe
and the Rebbe's place of burial, and free subscriptions to a variety of Torah
learning. |
| Tanya
Online | Virtual Tanya lessons! a nicely formatted Hebrew
/ English Tanya text with explanations, with the option of audio clips (English)
of Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasniaskis elaborations. Or one can download the entire
lesson (English) as an audio clip. |
| Think
Jewish | RealAudio Torah classes from Chabad. |
| Moshiach.com | Lots
of information and current articles on the coming of Moshiach, people who may
be remnants of the lost tribes, and interactive tour of the Holy Temple and more. |
| Manis Freidman | Jewish
teachings for women by world renowned educator Rabbi Manis Freidman, online articles
and a catalog of books and tapes. |
| Algemeiner | The
Algemeiner Journal site features the exciting writings of Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson,
and some of the other finest Jewish writers today. |
| Meaningful
Life | Rabbi Simon Jacobson's web site - Week in
Review, World in Turmoil, Israel in Crisis, the Wednesday Night Class on tapes,
books, ask the rabbi and more. |
|
Lubavitcher Rebbe | All about the great Jewish
leader of the 20th century and his teachings as a guide toward a fulfilled Jewish
life. |
| Letter
in the Torah | Learn how kosher Torah scrolls are produced
and inscribed, and buy a letter in a sefer Torah. |
| Farbrengen | Online
version of the popular quarterly magazine from Chabad, featuring contemporary
articles, essays and artwork by a variety Jewish celebrities in their fields. |
| Tanya Aids | An
index and glossary for the book"Lessons in Tanya," a line-by-line explanation
of the chasidic classic. |
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D. Other Chasidut |
| Baal
Shem Tov | Official website of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation
- information on the Besht : who was he? what did he teach? Includes weekly stories. |
| Bretzlov World | Offers
insights on Jewish Spirituality from the wellsprings of Breslov Chassidus, and
from many other sources on a wide variety of subjects as well. Admirably eclectic. |
| Modzitz Chassidut | Chassidut
rich in music - at their unusual website you can hear many songs online composed
by the rebbes and their chassidim and also order cassette tapes. |
| Chassidus.net | An
amateur site offering background information on a variety of Chassidic groups
and their rebbes, many stories of the Rebbes, commentary on Pirkei Avos (Ethics
of the Fathers) and a glossary of Yiddish and Hebrew terms. |
| Bat
Ayin | A few translations from the remarkable work of Rabbi
Araham Dov Auerbach of Avritch, a leading 19th century chasidic rebbe in Tsfat. |
| Lazer Beams | The
most popular chasidic blog on the web. Brezlav oriented. Interesting insights
into many areas of life. |
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E. Stories of the Chasidim/Kabbalists/Sages |
| Ascent of Safed | Up
to weekly story #536 (as of Feb 29, 2008) and still going strong. As told by acclaimed
storyteller Yerachmiel Tilles at Ascent every Saturday night. |
| Haichal
Nagina | Real stories for major chasidic rebbe yahrzeits,
but primarily the best Jewish music blog on the web. |
| The
Baal Shem Tov | Official website of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation
- information on the Besht : who was he? what did he teach? Includes weekly stories. |
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F. Other Jewish Studies |
| AskMoses |
Everything you ever wanted to know about Judaism but were afraid (or didn't know
who) to ask. Rabbis and Jewish scholars answer your questions in real time, 24/6,
in complete confidentiality. |
| Jnet | JNet
has volunteers ready to learn any topic, any time, any place. |
| Yiddishkeit.org |
Online Torah library and abundant links and reviews. |
| R.
Jonathan Sacks | Brilliant weekly insights from
the current chief rabbi of England |
| Shma
Yisrael Torah Network | Lots of online Torah learning, discussion
boards, communities of teachers and scholars, a women's group, a smicha program
and more. |
| A
Still Small Voice | Sarah Schneider's online correspondence
course in Jewish life, mysticism and learning. |
| Ohr
Chadash | Audio classes with Avraham Aryeh Trugman,
an advanced gematria search program, and other interesting features. |
| B'or haTorah | Science,
art, math and philosophy illuminated with the light of Torah in an online e-zine. |
| Laibl Wolf |
For seekers in Australia, Laibl Wolf's website offers a free chat room, Ask Laibl
and Ask Leah columns, and inspirational tips for meditation and daily living. |
| Orot |
Beautiful website with many explications of the deep and mystical Torah of Rav
Kook, contemporary articles, book reviews and online ordering. |
| There is One | Gutman
Locks' website includes a movie explaining the concepts of Lights and Vessels,
discussions on spiritual perspectives in text and and a cute, brief visual presentation
for Chanukah. |
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G. General Jewish Interest |
| Jewish
Impact Films | Very cool. Some of the films are quite amusing
as well as meaningful. |
| Kaluach |
Online Hebrew calendar, and smooth conversion to and from Gregorian dates. |
| Arutz
Sheva | The news station forced to move to the
web when their radio broadcasts were banned. This English site includes a lot
of good information for English speakers currently in Israel or thinking to visit
or move here. |
| Birthright-Mayanot | It
could be that you are eligble for a free trip to Israel! This Mayanot is our recommended
Birthright-Taglit provider |
| Aliyah
& "Matrix" | A Zionist Matrix parody. Cute. |
| Jonah | Website
of the non-profit international organization dedicated to educating the world-wide
Jewish community about the prevention, intervention, and healing of the underlying
issues causing same-sex attractions. If you know someone who desires help, or
if you just want to know where orthodox Judaism stands on this issue, this website
is the place to start. |
| Zoo
Torah | Fun stuff! Torah education through wildlife and
wildlife education through Torah - Gam Zoo l'Tovah! |
| Kabbala
Art of Boruch Nachshon | Gallery of pictographic paintings
by the famous pioneer and chassidic artist living in the hills of Hebron, Israel. |
| Kabbala
Art of Eliyah Succot | Acrylic paintings on kabbalistic
themes. |
| Kabbala
Art of Yael & Dov Lederberg | Two different styles of
mystical art from husband and wife. |
| Israel
Weather | A detailed weather map from the government meterologists |
| Israel bus schedules | Includes
buses to Tsfat from Jerusalem (#982), Tel Aviv (#846), Bnai Brak (#980), Haifa/Acco
(#361), Tiberias and Kiryat Shemona (#501). |
| Israel
train schedule | Nearest station to Tsfat is Acco |
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H.
Link Exchanges |
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