Day 71 - Wine & Cheese in Safed

They say a mandatory stop for all people visiting Safed is the Hameiri Cheese shop. Yes, I know it sounds a little bit like "Ham and Cheese", but considering this is Israel, you just know it has to be "kosher cheese". The shop gets it's cheese from the Hameiri Dairy, which is purported to be the first dairy in Israel. This dairy was established by Meir Arzoni, who's family immigrated from Persia in 1840. Once in Israel, they changed their name to Hameiri.

Before Meir Hameiri died, he gave his family these instructions:

1. The family's home would always be passed on to the son in the family that took the name of Shlomi or Meir.
2. The family home would never be rented out or sold. 

To this day, the Hameiri family has honored those requests. The Hameiri Dairy produces has garnered a wonderful reputation for making goat and sheep cheeses of the highest quality. They have also become popular for producing what is now known as Bulgarian cheese. When visiting Safed, visitors can take a tour of the cheese production plant.

Another place of interest in Safed is the Old Tzfat Winery. Apparently, Moshe Alon, who is the owner of the winery, is happy to explain the process of wine making to visitors that frequent his winery. Moshe began his wine making career by making it in his own home in Safed's Old Jewish Quarter. He said he would have students from the Yeshiva (where Orthodox Jewish men study Torah) by coming over to help unload grapes from his truck and stomp on the grapes. As his wine began to grow in popularity, Moshe invested in a winery business, that now produces 20,000 bottles of wine a year.

I already know that my travels are going to take me to Safed. From my interest in Kaballah and Art, I now know I have to spend some time tasting the local food and drink produced in the city. I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday afternoon - than a trip to the Old Tzfat Winery and then a tour of the Hameiri Dairy.

Later that evening, equipped with my wine and cheese, I plan to walk out to the beautiful hills of Safed and welcome in Shabbat - just like the Ancient Kaballalists did so many years ago.