Tradition has it that the Ari studied Torah in the dark cave beneath the eastern wall of the synagogue. Here the Prophet Elijah is said to have appeared and shared revelations from the Torah with the Ari. This is the oldest of Tzfat's synagogues, and was originally known as the "Prophet Elijah". Its dimensions are large and its high vaulted ceiling is richly decorated. In the earthquake of 1837, most of the building was destroyed, and was restored by the philanthropist Yitzhak Guetta. In the 1948 War of Independence, it was used as a forward position due to its proximity with the Arab quarter. The synagogue was recently restored and renovated.
