TORONTO — For more than 500 years, the Holy City of Tsfat (Safed) in the Galilee was the home of Jewish scholars, mystics and spiritual leaders.
Several earthquakes left the city in ruins in the middle of the last century. It was said that the city could not be rebuilt to its former grandeur, however, Breslev Rabbi Gedaliah Kenig received a directive from his teacher, Rabbi Avraham Sternhartz, who was then the leader of the Breslev chassidic community in Jerusalem, to undertake the task of rebuilding Tsfat.
Rabbi Kenig accepted the mission and worked tirelessly on it. When he died, he passed on the task to his three sons, who have continued in their father’s footsteps.
Tsfat is once again a vibrant area. Located there are the non-profit institutions of Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma, founded in 1967, which include the Great Breslev Synagogue, a kolel, a mikvah and a nursery.
Rabbi Aharon Carmi, a member of the Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma’s board of directors and the gabbai for Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Kenig, the community’s spiritual leader, was in Toronto recently to prepare for a fundraising concert.
Welcome To Tsfat, featuring the group Simply Tsfat, will be held on June 17, at the Eglinton Grand, 400 Eglinton Ave. W. at 8 p.m.
“Simply Tsfat is a trio of talented chassidic Israeli musicians. In concert, they merge heaven and earth through music and stories,” Rabbi Carmi said.
“The aim of the group is to spread the joy and inspiration of Judaism and to bring a breath of fresh air from the mystical city of Tsfat, the home of Kabbalah.”
Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma’s mission since 1967 has been to provide social and educational assistance to families in need.
“We provide weekly food distribution to more than 200 families in need,” Rabbi Carmi said. “A special project, Eat Well, Learn Well, was established to help children from underprivileged families to escape the hunger situation at home and to provide them with a hot, nutritious meal. We serve up to 400 children daily at our newly decorated soup kitchen.”
The community offers many educational programs, including one that helps those with learning disabilities.
Because of the Second Lebanon War of 2006, the poverty in the city has worsened, Rabbi Carmi said. “Many visitors have stopped coming to Tsfat, therefore everyone’s income is down. Some people are in such need that they rent out their homes and move in with others to get some money.”
Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma has created a foundation to help and support needy families in the city.
To order tickets for the concert or for information,e-mail [email protected]; call Deena, 416-887-3779; fax 416-783-8141; or write to 208 Carmichael Ave., Toronto, Ont., M5M 2X3.
