The Tzfat Herald

31/07/2024

By
Susan Cohen
Managing Editor

It's been six months since our local elections. The numbers said we wanted a change, but did we really get one for the better?

Despite the continuing raging war, how are we doing as a city?

Lousy. There's a new mayor and council, and they are as petty, snarky and unresponsive to residents as the previous cast of characters, and completely out of touch with the issues and challenges facing Tzfatim.

While the mayor has no time to meet with citizen advocacy groups,his tenure so far is notable for the important things he hasn't done- other than hand out political favors.

The Revacha remains unresponsive to the over half the city that requires it's assistance. Emergency, senior and youth services are sorely lacking and they have been without a department head for most of the last six years.

The vice mayor in charge of Immigration and Absorption, who has been in the job for over 20 years and receives a salary hovering close to the mayor's 40,000 nis monthly salary, has made it clear that Olim from Russia are his ONLY interest and that providing any support to other olim- especially English speakers are of no concern to him- evidenced by his total lack of interest in the large constituency. There has been no one in the community liaison job for over two years, and no entries on the city's English page for just as long.

Jerusalem Street is a shameful mess. Potholes, filth, disgusting and inaccessible bathrooms, no signage, cracked sidewalks and unenforced traffic and parking rules coupled with drastically reduced foot traffic account for empty storefronts and increasingly failing businesses.

While the mayor met with tourism officials, we haven't had a tourism chief for years. Our number one industry is neglected and unimaginative, with vendors, tzimmer operators, restaurants, artists and musicians devastated.

It has been left to the non-profit Sparks to Life - ניצוצות לחיים to raise the money and partner with outside sources to build life-saving shelters without the city lifting a finger to help. He FINALLY met with them today.

The mayor knows nothing about life here, and has a young, inexperienced staff who knows even less.

Do you want to live like this for the next four and a half years?

The city is in debt with no economic development plan. The poor get poorer and friends of the Iriya get to build without permits and other violations while the city turns a blind eye.

No transparency.

I am the second of four generations of my family to live in Tzfat and I'm not going anywhere. Our 40,000 shekel a month mayor and the special interest council needs to be held accountable by all of us.

24/07/2024

These are the brave and accomplished Israeli athletes on their way to compete in the Paris Olympics.

Watching with pride.

18/06/2023

Tzfat Unplugged

ELECTION WATCH

By
Susan Cohen
Managing Editor

After years of being locked off from the public, Gan Ziffer was once again “gifted” to Anglo olim.

It was a group of Americans who first brought the park nestled in the Artists Colony to the attention of the municipality. Keys were given to several members of the community and private funds were used to clean the neglected space that had been fenced and inaccessible for years. After the mayor visited the park, he retrieved the keys with no explanation (please refer to the attached article).

The park remained inaccessible for another two years while work was done by the city. Vegetation was removed, sculptures moved, and passive open green space was replaced with a slab of concrete. Neighbors and residents of the Artists Colony were kept out of the planning.

Several weeks ago, a handful of Tzfatim and non-residents were invited by the Iriya to form a vaad. No open process. No city-wide invitation to apply. No requirements for board members. The mayor simply contacted someone seen to be a political ally
and left the organizing to them.

Last week's meeting brought out good, creative, accomplished people with the best of intentions. While the mayor repeatedly referred to it as a gift to the Anglos, it belongs to the city and is technically not his to give and in fact can be seen as a political gift in a hotly contested election year.

But it is the city's contention that it will not give a contract that should be most disturbing.

In 2021, there were many meetings held between world-renowned muralist Solomon Souza,the mayor, his assistant Yasmin Day, Public Information Officer Shalom Elbaz and myself regarding painting murals on the exterior walls of Sheva Chaya's gallery. The mayor's notes on subjects, size and colors were all considered. Yasmin Day came on two different occasions to paint and one night to meet privately with Solomon at his home.

All systems were go-except when it came to payment. When Solomon went to the Iriya to collect his agreed upon 30,000 shekel, he was yelled at and dismissed by the mayor because “we never had a written contract”.

This administration has a long record of not paying its debts with or without contracts. Arbitrary decisions made without council or public approval. Gifts in return for votes. Promises not kept.

The Artists Colony, once the jewel of the Old City has been ignored and neglected for years. The streets are filthy, parking horrendous and there are no trash cans or public bathrooms. Steps are battered and dangerous, there is no signage and there are long stretches of stairs with no railings. It is a reflection of this administration's lack of regard for both the tourists and residents.

Gan Ziffer is a beautiful spot and there should be active, imaginative art, music and dance programming constantly. It should be open daily for passive use and meditation. A board should be elected- not appointed-representing the community- including teens.

Don't be fooled.

16/06/2023

Precious Resource Neglected by City Nestled in the corner of Rechov Tet Vav sits a beautiful sculpture garden, left to the city by Moshe Ziffer, one of Israel’s most prolific artists of the late twentieth century. At 17, Ziffer, (1902-1989) immigrated to Israel from Poland. After studying sculptur...

01/06/2023

מלי אשכנזי באוגוסט 2020 החלו במרכז העיר צפת הפגנות נגד עמותת הלל, הפגנות הנערכות מדי שבוע ונמשכות עד עצם ימים אלו. מפרוץ הסוגיה לתודעת הציבור, יש הרבה דיסאינפורמציה וב....

01/06/2023

In August 2020, demonstrations against the Hillel NGO (Non-Profit Organization) erupted in Tzfat's city center. Weekly demonstrations have continued ever since. As public awareness of the demonstrations grew, so did misinformation and confusion about Hillel's activities, the motives of its members a...

01/06/2023

גן הפסלים של משה ציפר : נווה בעיר העתיקה בצפת מסוזן כהן תרגום: עצמונה ווקסמן גן ציפר ממוקם ברחוב ט"ו סמוך למלון רימונים בעיר העתיקה . בעבר היה גן פסלים יפהפה, שהותיר לע....

30/05/2023

THE TAMBOURINE DREAM FESTIVAL:
Making Dreams Come True

By
Susan Cohen
Managing Editor

When visitors ask me what makes Tzfat so distinctly spiritual, I always give the women who learn, teach, pray, nurture and lift their voices in song and dance top-of-the-list credit.

It was Aviva Spiegel's longing to spend time at the beach that was the impetus for the Tambourine Dream Festival.

Ten years ago, married, with six young children at home, she yearned to be seaside occasionally to rejuvenate her physically and spiritually. Inspired by a talk of the Lubavitcher Rebbe urging women to begin celebrating the Redemption not only through learning and prayer but with music and dance, an idea gave birth to one of the most anticipated women’s celebrations of the year.

A Stanford University graduate and veteran of years of shlichut in both the United States and Israel, activism and organization had become second nature to her. On her arrival in Tzfat, she quickly connected with the women already creating events and initiated creative celebrations for Chanukah and Purim. With her pre-Teshuva experiences of beach parties and Grateful Dead concerts, she conjured a plan to produce a beach side celebration for women encompassing an atmosphere of Torah, music and dance.

With no sponsor or capitol, Aviva was confident that ticket sales would cover the costs of the beach rental, musicians and promotion. She signed on some of Israel's most prolific female musicians- Tziona Achishena, Chava Rochel Saban and Michal Shababo- and secured a location on the Kinneret.

It's been ten years and the dream is flourishing. Women from all walks of life- singles, married and lots of mommies toting their offspring and camping gear, gather beach side for three days of Torah, music and inspiration. This year's celebration brings longtime participants and a host of newcomers eager to join the festivities.

For Tzipporah Modes, it is a welcome respite from daily life. "Last year was the hardest of my life. I had an extremely difficult pregnancy, and could not walk for three months after the birth. I was in a very low place physically, emotionally and spiritually. Without exaggerating at all, the festival changed my life. I was finally able to open up and feel free to be me and totally connected to Hashem."

Bonding with other women and attention to self care is a vital component of the festival philosophy. Says community activist Meira Roome, "The first time I came to the Tambourine Festival, I had three children under three and my husband was serving in the IDF. To say I needed some self care is a huge understatement. My neighbor told me about it and I decided to go with her for a day. I was immediately hooked, addicted to the laughter, the feminine achdus, the Torah classes- even the swimming was uplifting. I was experiencing my own personal geula, and it repeatedly brought me to joyful tears. I have gone every year since, and eventually became involved in the festival's organizational operations."

For Aviva, whose eternal optimism and fearlessness for challenge and hard work is boundless, this year of Hakel will be particularly joyful.

"Over the years, as I've internalized more the teachings of Chassidus, the kavanna of the festival has transformed to also reflect a very specific goal- to "birth Geula". The driving force behind the festival is to provide an atmosphere of joy, love and support for women to actually experience levels of quantum healing and revelation of personal truth. I'm addicted to those moments at the festival- during the improvisational dance circle jams, when I get it with my whole being that we're already birthing the Geula. Where will you be and what will you be doing when you experience that quantum shift in your reality? Step into the Circle- we're ready!

26/01/2023

26/01/2023

YOHAI EZRA RESIGNS FROM MAYOR'S COALITION:

City council member cites mismanagement, incompetence and lack of transparency in fiery letter.

Ezra, completing his first term on council, has been critical of the mayor's lack of effectiveness on critical issues. While unannounced, he is considered a strong contender for mayor in upcoming municipal elections.