Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue

The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue is one of the most sacred sites in Tzfat, built in the 16th century and closely associated with Rabbi Isaac Luria — the Ari HaKadosh — the greatest Kabbalist who ever lived. According to tradition, the Ari would gather his disciples here on Friday evenings to welcome the Shabbat, and it was here that the custom of going out to the fields to greet the Shabbat bride originated. The current structure dates to the 18th century after an earthquake destroyed the original building. The synagogue contains a Torah scroll said to have been written by the Ari himself.