Where the Ari taught
Learn Kabbalah in Tzfat
Classes, centers and teachers in the city where the Arizal and the Ramak taught — for first-timers and for serious students, in person or online.
Photography: Yitzhak Ponte
Why Tzfat
The city where Kabbalah came into the light
In the 16th century, in the generations after the expulsion from Spain, Tzfat became the world centre of Kabbalah. Scholars and mystics filled its lanes: Rabbi Yosef Karo wrote the Shulchan Aruch here, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz composed Lecha Dodi, and the Ramak, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, laid out the Kabbalah of his day in his great work Pardes Rimonim.
Around 1570 the Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, came to Tzfat from Egypt. He lived here only about two and a half years, teaching a small circle of students led by Rabbi Chaim Vital, often while walking the hills around the city. His teachings, and customs born here such as going out to greet Shabbat in the fields, went on to shape Jewish prayer and thought all over the world.
Learning Kabbalah in Tzfat today can mean a one-hour talk in the Old City, a week-long seminar, or years of study with a teacher. The listings below help you find the one that fits.
Before you choose
How to pick the right class
First time?
Start with a drop-in talk or a one-day seminar. It tells you whether you want more before you commit.
Which tradition?
Lurianic Kabbalah (the Arizal), Chassidut, the Ashlag school — teachers differ. Ask which one a class follows.
Language & audience
Classes run in English, Hebrew, Spanish and more; some are for men, some for women, many for everyone.
Here or from home
Learn in the Old City while you visit, then keep going online when you’re back home.
Classes, centers, teachers & readings
Where to learn
Ascent Institute of Safed – Classes and SeminarsIn person · English · Hebrew · Beginners
Nehora School of KabbalahOnline · In person · Women · Hebrew
Tzfat Kabbalah Center – Tours, Classes and WorkshopsIn person · English · Beginners
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Kabbalah → · Kabbalah in art: galleries in the Artists’ Quarter →
Walk where they learned
Places of the Kabbalists
SynagogueAri Ashkenazi Synagogue
Where Kabbalat Shabbat in the fields is remembered
SynagogueAri Sephardic Synagogue
Tradition holds the Ari prayed and studied here
The sages: The ArizalThe RamakRabbi Chaim VitalRabbi Shlomo Alkabetz
Good to know
Questions visitors ask
Do I need to know Hebrew to learn Kabbalah in Tzfat?
No. Many classes and centers in Tzfat teach in English, and some teach in Spanish, French or Russian. Knowing the Hebrew letters helps, and teachers will explain the key Hebrew terms as you go.
Is there a class I can just walk into today?
Usually, yes. Several centers in the Old City offer short drop-in talks and classes for visitors. Check each listing for its times, and call ahead on Fridays and before holidays.
Are there classes for women?
Yes. Several centers welcome women to their regular classes, and some programmes in Tzfat are taught by women or are for women only — look for “Women” in the filters.
What does it cost?
It ranges from free drop-in talks to paid courses, seminars, retreats and personal readings. Each listing shows its own terms; ask before you book.
Can I continue online after my visit?
Yes. Several of the centers and teachers listed here teach online, so you can keep learning with the same teacher once you are home.
