Be My Guest: A Tsfat Guesthouse
Located in the quiet city of Safed is a lovely guesthouse run by Safed resident Shelly Bernstein. The guest house is only 7 minutes from Rosh Pina, a great town for enjoying wonderful restaurants and night life, 20 minutes from the Sea of Galilee and 15 minutes from the Golan Heights. Choose your vacation in the north of Israel for a bit of history, culture and sport, all in a pastoral mountain setting.
Things To Do In And Around Safed
While in Safed, guests can visit the ancient synagogues of the city, many of which date back to the 1200's, or climb to the top of the Crusader Citadel located at the summit of Safed and imagine people in biblical times standing on this very mountain sending smoke signals to indicate the new moon rising.
Nearby, there is a graveyard where the Ari, the Rabbi who wrote the Zohar and who also passed down the concept of accepting the Shabbat as a new come bride, is buried.
Guests can also attend seminars at Ascent or with Rabbi David Friedman if they want to learn a little Torah.
If that is too much spirituality for one day, head out to Rosh Pina for lunch and drinks, we recommend the chocolate cafe', and then continue on down to the Sea of Galilee for a relaxing swim.
Guests can also join one of the many jeep trips that venture all around the area, heading deep into the valleys off the main roads. A trip to the Golan Heights is also always a fun idea and there you can visit off the beaten path archaeological sites and discover natural spring swimming holes, a perfect way to cool off from the summer heat.
Kids may enjoy taking a horseback riding trip or eating a steak and hamburger, American style, at Bat Yar.
For those who like to hike, trekking into Wadi Amud, which has a trail beginning at the back of the grave yard and ending at Mt. Meron, can be a great way to spend a day. There is an old silk mill from the 1600's along the path and there is even a natural spring along the way. This is a beautiful hike which will inspire you to stay in the North.
If too much physical activity is not your thing then consider spending the day at Shulamit's spa where you can pamper yourself with various massages from the best misuses in the North.
About the Guesthouse
Shelly's vacation rental sleeps 8 people year round and includes 2 bedrooms, one master bedroom and one children's/guest bedroom equipped with bunk beds and a couch bed which opens to a double bed. The living room is furnished with a futon couch that sleeps one, a TV and DVD and has a full kitchen, washing machine, and a Jacuzzi.
Behind the house is a huge private yard with a 50 square meter East Indian tent and a large wooden deck. Guests can sit out on the deck facing the forest behind the Old City of Safed and take in a mystical sunset with a view of Mt. Meron while having a barbecue or Shabbat dinner.
The house and tent can accommodate large groups in the summer months and are perfectly set up for children since they are equipped with toys, movies and sprinklers for a child friendly stay.
About Shelly
Shelly, the owner of the guest house came to Tsfat from San Francisco as a volunteer. Shelly became very attached to her friends in the town and decided after an emotional inner struggle to make her home in the area. Shelly is now in the process of opening an art gallery in Rosh Pina that will represent established Israeli and up and coming Northern Israeli artists.
The guest house is available for short or long term.
Contact information:
Shelly Bernstein
04-6827698
