Sanz Synagogue Safed

{{Infobox
|title = Sanz Shul Tzfat
|image        = [[File:00000798 front of sanz shul tzfat.jpg|215px|alt=Sanz Shul Tzfat]]
|header1 = Hebrew:
|data2  =  בית הכנסת צאנז צפת
|header3 = Pronunciation:
|data4  = Tz-antz
|header5 = Other Names:
|data6   = Sanz Shul, Tzanz Shtieble, Tsanz Kloyze, Sanzer Kloiz
|header7 = Description:
|data8   = Safed synagogue affiliated with the Sanz Hassidic movement, established by early Tzanz Chassidim for prayer, study and mikve immersion.}}

The Sanz synagogue, the “Divrei Chaim” is one of [[Tzfat Synagogues|Safed’s oldest Ashkanazi synagogues]]. Members of the local [[Sanz Community Safed|Sanz Chassidic community]] use the synagogue for prayer and study together  with other [[Safed|Tzfat]] residents and visitors. The Sanz shtiebel is known for its “minyan-mill” which offers numerous prayer quorums throughout the day.

== Sanz Hassidim in Tzfat ==
The Sanz Hassidic dynasty was founded in the Polish city of Nowy Sacz by Rabbi Chaim Halberstam, known as the “Divrei Chaim” who died in 1876. A group of Sanz Hassidim immigrated to Tzfat during the middle of the 19th century and established the Sanz synagogue in 1870 under the direction of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam’s oldest son, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Shinever Rov. The synagogue was named the “Divrei Chaim” in honor of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam.

=== Gate of Heaven ===
Rabbi Chaim taught that all prayers must travel through the Land of Israel, specifically Tzfat on their way to heaven and this was the 'Gate to Heaven'. He felt that his own meditations would benefit if his community supported a synagogue in Israel. Rabbi Chaim wanted to travel to the Land of Israel but was not able to undertake the journey. He asked his eldest son, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga, to undertake the establishment of a synagogue in Tzfat for the Sanz Chassidim who had moved to the city.

=== Early Sanz Community ===
The original Sanz community was comprised of approximately 100 Sanz Hassidim. Their numbers fluctuated widely during the course of historical events in the city, but by the 1970's the community began to enjoy a resurgence, encouraged by the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam, the 'Shefa Chaim' of Netanya Israel.

== Present-Day Sanz Synagogue ==
The [[Sanz Community Safed|Sanz community in Safed]] is centered around the synagogue on Rehov Tarpa. The location of the Sanz synaogogue is close to the central square of the [[Old City Safed|Old Jewish Quarter]], [[Kikar HaMeginim Safed|Kikar HaMeginim]]. The synagogue was renovated in the 1990s and included modernizations and additions, including a “Beit Midrash” -- study hall, called “Heichal Zichron Yitzhak.” The southern wall of the synagogue, where the “Aron Kodesh”  -- Ark of the Torah Scroll -- is located, is the original wall of the first Sanz synagogue.

[[File:more.jpg|link=]] '''Read full Zissil article on the [[Sanz Community Safed|Sanz community in Tzfas]]

=== Sanzers ===
The Sanz Hassidim in Tzfat maintain close ties with the various Sanz communities in Bnai Brak, Jerusalem, Netanya and Boro Park in Brooklyn. In addition to the Sanz congregants, many other men pray at the Sanz synagogue, including Sepharadi, Ashkanazi, Hassidic and non-Hassidic.

=== Minyan Mill ===
The Sanz Shtiebel is one of the few places in Tzfat where men can find a “minyan” -- prayer quorum -- at almost any time of the day or evening. Morning minyanim begin every half hour, starting at approximately 6:00a.m. and ending between 9:00a.m. and 10:00a.m., depending on the time of year. This makes it a convenient synagogue for vacationers who are not bound by the need to attend early services.

=== Women’s Galley ===
As an Orthodox synagogue the Sanz synagogue follows the Orthodox requirements that men and women pray separately. The women’s galley is on the second floor of the synagogue and offers easy viewing of the men’s section below. Women use the area during the Sabbath and holiday services and the men use it to start new minyans during the weekday services when the downstairs sanctuary is already in use.

== Mikvah ==
The Sanz “mikva” -- ritual bath -- is one of the largest in the Old Jewish Quarter of Safed (the Breslev mikva is the largest). The men’s mikve is open to men during the daytime while a second mikve for women is available to women in the evenings. All mikvas are clean and well-attended. The water is well-heated (one of the men’s mikves is kept at room-temperature for men who prefer the colder water) and a small fee is collected for the mikve’s use.

=== Kitchen Utensils ===
A small mikvah for utensils sits outside the Sanz synagogue. Both men and women can access the mikve for dishes and other culinary items.

Several days before the Passover holiday a staff of men maintain a huge boiling pot of water where people can immerse suitable utensils that they plan to use for Passover.


{{Tzfat Synagogues}}

[[Category:Old Synagogues]]
[[Category:Safed]]