In 1908, Solomon Schechter-discoverer of the Cairo Geniza and one
of the founders of the Jewish Theological Seminary of
America-published his groundbreaking essay on the city of Safed
(Tzfat) during the sixteenth century. In the essay, Schechter
pointed out the exceptional cultural achievements (religious law,
moral teaching, hermeneutics, poetry, geography) of this small city
in the upper Galilee but did not yet see the importance of
including the foundation on which all of these fields began-the
legends that were developed, told, and spread in Safed during this
period. In The Legend of Safed: Life and Fantasy in the City of
Kabbalah, author Eli Yassif utilizes ""new historicism""
methodology in order to use the non-canonical materials-legends and
myths, visions, dreams, rumors, everyday dialogues-to present these
legends in their historical and cultural context and use them to
better understand the culture of Safed. This approach considers the
literary text not as a reflection of reality, but a part of reality
itself-taking sides in the debates and decisions of humans and
serving as a major tool for understanding society and human
mentality. Divided into seven chapters, The Legend of Safed begins
with an explanation of how the myth of Safed was founded on the
general belief that during this ""golden age"" (1570-1620), Safed
was an idyllic location in which complete peace and understanding
existed between the diverse groups of people who migrated to the
city. Yassif goes on to analyze thematic characteristics of the
legends, including spatial elements, the function of dreams,
mysticism, sexual sins, and omniscience. The book concludes with a
discussion of the tension between fantasy (Safed is a sacred city
built on morality, religious thought, and well-being for all) and
reality (every person is full of weaknesses and flaws) and how that
is the basis for understanding the vitality of Safed myth and its
immense impact on the future of Jewish life and culture. The Legend
of Safed is intended for students, scholars, and general readers of
medieval and early modern Jewish studies, Hebrew literature, and
folklore.
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