“Even after death, the tzaddikim are called living.” (Berachot 18a)
The practice of praying at the gravesite of the Tzaddik is an ancient Jewish concept and custom. We see in the Torah that Yaakov buried Rachel on the road outside of Beit Lechem because he saw with prophesy that when the Jews would be exiled to Babylon, they would pass that spot and have the opportunity to pray there, and in the merit of the Matriarch Rachel, Hashem would promise to bring the Jews back from exile.

THE OLD CEMETERY
Within the ancient cemetery of Tsfat rests some of the holiest Tzaddikim of all times. Their awesome spiritual energy permeates the air. Following is a brief description of some of these Tzaddikim and where their gravesites can be found:

Rabbi Isaac Luria, R’ Yitzchak ben Shlomo "The Holy Arizal" (yartzeit, 5 Av)
The great Master of Kabbalah, he lived in the golden age of Tsfat, the 16th century. He was one of the five greatest Tzaddikim of all time, called Tzaddik Yesod Olam, from the same soul root as Moshe Rabbeinu and Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai. He brought the light of the kabbalah down from its lofty abode in the teachings of Rebbe Shimon into a practical system of study. He was able to see the soul root of every Jew and direct them on a perfect path of service and return to their Creator. For this reason, he was able to help any Jew that came to him.
Despite this awesome gift, he stated that he came into the world only to rectify the soul of his chief disciple, R’ Chaim Vital. Through the rectification of R’ Chaim’s soul, the whole world would receive its tikkun and the age of Mashiach would descend and bring redemption to the entire world. This incredible window of opportunity was damaged, however, and after the Arizal’s passing, Tsfat has waited for the time when Mashiach himself would come and complete the job.

The Arizal's kever is located in the middle of the cemetery, housed by a large platform for the many visitors who come to pray.

R’ Moshe ben Yaakov Kordovero "Ramak" (yartzeit, 23 Tammuz)
Ordained by R’ Yaakov Beirav at the tender age of eighteen, the Ramak was a Torah great and renowned Kabbalist. He studied under R’ Yosef Karo and later opened up his own yeashiva. When he passed away at the age of 48, the Arizal saw that two pillars of fire escorted him. The Arizal stated that this honor is only bestowed on one or two in a generation. He continued that R’ Moshe did not pass away because of any sin that he committed, rather, only because of the sin of Adam and Chava in the Garden of Eden. He is the author of the great Kabbalistic work Pardes Rimonim, the ethical classic Tomer Devorah, and Or Yakar, a commentary on the earliest mystical writings.

Located just below the Arizal’s grave.

R’ Shlomo Alkabetz
Author of the Shabbat classic, L’cha Dodi. He was the teacher of the Ramak.

Located to the side of the Arizal’s grave.

R’ David ben Zimra "Radbaz"
After serving as Chief Rabbi of Cairo for forty years, the Radbaz came to Tsfat around 1570 and joined the rabbinical court. He was legendary as both a halachic giant and one who merited visits by Elijah the Prophet.

Located to the side of the Arizal’s grave.

R’ Moshe ben Yosef Metrani "Mabit"(yartzeit, 23 Nissan)
Most outstanding member of R’ Yosef Karo’s rabbinical court. In 1525, he entered the rabbinate at age twenty and was ordained by his teacher, R’ Yaakov Beirav, ten years later. He remained in Tsfat for sixty years, except for a brief period in which he lived in Jerusalem. He authored a commentary on the Rambam’s Mishna Torah as well as a book on ethical conduct, the Beis Elokim.

Located to the side of the Arizal’s grave. 

R’ Avraham Dov of Avreitsh (yartzeit, 12 Kislev)
In 1830, after serving as Rebbe of Avreitsh for 40 years, R’ Avraham Dov left his group of Chassidim and emigrated from Russia to Tsfat. The people of Tsfat recognized his greatness and he soon became the leader of the Chassidic community, infusing new vigor in the whole settlement. He rebuilt the town's financial support system, giving greatly from his own resources. He worked together with the non-Chassidic community, as well, to strengthen the entire settlement. During the earthquake of 1837, R’ Avraham Dov stood in front of the ark of his synagogue called out “Come to me!” He prostrated himself on the floor and cried out to Hashem as congregants rushed toward him. As the other half of the synagogue collapsed, the ceiling above them remained intact

Location: From the Arizal’s grave continue along the path down the mountain to the left. Not far to the right is the cave.

Miriam, daughter of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev
Rebbe Nachman's daughter moved to Eretz Yisrael with her husband and was buried in Tsfat.

Location: In the same cave with R’ Avraham Dov of Avreitsh.

R’ Dovid Shlomo Ivshitz (yartzeit, 22 Cheshvan)
A giant in both revealed and hidden aspect of Torah, he came to Israel in 1809. In Tsfat, he completed his halachic masterpiece Levushei S’rad on Yoreh Deah and Arvei Nachal, a Chassidic commentary to the Torah.

Location: In the same cave as R’ Avraham Dov of Avreitsh.

R’ Yosef ben Ephraim Karo (yartzeit, 13 Nissan)
Born in 1488 in Spain, he saw the great centers of Jewish learning in Europe systematically destroyed by expulsions, forced baptisms and inquisitions. By writing the Beit Yosef, Rabbi Karo sought to preserve Jewish scholarship and strengthen the unity of the Jewish people in the face of these hardships. This book, which took 32 years to write, cites opinions on halachic issues drawn from diverse traditions, determining an authoritative interpretation of the law. A condensed version of the book, Shulchan Aruch (The Set Table), serves as the basis of all Jewish law today.

Location: Continue down the mountain slope along the same path until reaching a single tree on the left side. The tombstone is under the tree.

R' Yitzchok ben Noson Sternhartz
The second son of Reb Noson, leading disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. Reb Yitzchok (1808-1871) was Reb Noson's second oldest son. After his marriage, he lived in Tulchin (about nine miles from Breslov where his father lived after the Rebbe passed away). Reb Yitzchok was highly respected and honored, especially amongst the local authorities, who placed him in charge of the post office (which also served as a government bank in those days). Reb Noson said, "I had no time to write all the letters that I did to my son. The letters were written by Reb Yitzchok's burning desire to hear words of encouragement from me." These letters make up the book Alim Litrufah, which has letters that Reb Yitzchok himself wrote appended to the book. Reb Yitzchok moved to the Holy Land in the summer of 1868 and passed away in Tsfat a few years later.

Located right next to R' Yosef Karo.

Reb Shimon
Shamash (attendant) of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev and one of his first followers. Reb Shimon requested of Rebbe Nachman that he would merit to serve the Rebbe in the World to Come just as he had served and helped him in this world. The Rebbe consented to his request.

Located between the Arizal and R' Yosef Karo.

R’ Chaim of Chernovitz "Beier Mayim Chaim" (yartzeit, 27 Kislev)
Author of the Chassidic commentary to the Torah, Beier Mayim Chaim, he came to spend his last years in Tsfat, arriving in 1813. He passed away five years later.

Located close to R’ Karo’s grave, on the left, is the cave of R’ Chaim.

R’ Moshe Alsheich (yartzeit, 13 Nissan)
Rabbi Moshe Alsheich studied under and was ordained by Rabbi Yosef Karo. He was a great orator and the townspeople gathered in his synagogue each Shabbat afternoon to hear his weekly sermon. He was a mentor of R’ Chaim Vital and ordained him. When the Arizal came to Tsfat, he entreated him to teach him Kabbalah, but the Arizal always refused. Finally the Arizal consented to include Rabbi Alsheich at the next Kabbalat Shabbat service. On the appointed day Rabbi Alsheich arrived early and waited impatiently, but as the disciples approached he was suddenly overcome by exhaustion and fell asleep. Thus the Arizal convinced him that his soul was suited for teaching the Torah's literal meaning and ethical-moral interpretations, but not for Kabbalah.

Location: Buried in a cave slightly further to the south. 

R’ Yaakov Beirav (yartzeit, 30 Nissan)
As leader of Tsfat, he reinstated semicha and ordained his some of his chief disciples including R’ Yosef Karo, R’ Moshe Kordevero and R’ Moshe Metrani.

Location: Buried in the same cave as R’ Moshe Alsheich.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya
Disciple of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, mentor of Onkelos and Shimon ben Azai, he was Av Beis Din in the time of Rabban Gamliel. “Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai enumerated the merits of his chief disciples: ‘…Rabbi Yehoshua, happy is she who bore him.’” (Avos, 2:11)

Location: Slightly further to the south stands a prominent cave within a domed-roof structure, the only one in the ancient cemetery. An additional tradition holds that the Prophet Hoshea is buried there.

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair
A Tanna, he was the father-in-law of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai. The Arizal pinpointed the exact spot of the unmarked grave. According to tradition the fact that no tombstone was ever erected alludes to the altruism of the Tzaddik, who never accepted benefits from others. Thus even after death the Tzaddik refused, as it were, to allow people to construct a tombstone over his grave. Attempts were made, but they all ended in failure.

It is customary to circle the monument seven times while reciting the prayer Ana b’Koach and Psalm 91 seven times.

There is a tradition that there is an underground cave connecting this burial site with that of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai, who was the son-in-law of Rabbi Pinchas, three miles away.

Location: At the bottom of the mountain, past the new cemetery, inside a large circular stone wall, under a pile of stones, and without any tombstone.

Channah and her seven sons
This righteous Jewish woman testified to the faithfulness of the Jewish people to their G-d in the time of the Greek rule. Antiochus, the ruler of Greece called her and her seven sons before him and commanded them one by one to bow down to him, with the threat of death. Channah instructed each of her sons to refuse. She therefore witnessed the execution of each of her sons.

According to tradition, Channah and her seven sons are buried in the old cemetery, although the exact location is unknown.

Tzaddikim Buried within Tsfat itself, outside of the cemetery:

Nachum Ish Gamzu
Located in South Tsfat on Ish Gamzu Street.
Known for saying gam zu l’tova, “this, too, is for the good,” even in the most difficult circumstances.

Benyamin HaTzaddik
Located in south Tsfat, at the bottom of HaNassi Street, to the left.
A Tanna and disciple of Rabbi Akiva. Because of his love of the mitzvah of charity, he was appointed in charge of the tzedaka fund of the community. Once, when there was no money left in the charity fund, he supported a widow and her seven sons out of his own pocket. Later, when he became critically ill, the heavenly court recalled his deed of kindness and added twenty-two years to his life. (Babba Batra 11a)

Rabbi Dosa ben Horkinas
Located in the Cave of Shem and Ever, above the bridge on Jerusalem Street, off of HaPalmach Street. He lived for over 400 years, from the time of the prophet Hagai, until the time of Rabbi Akiva. He said, “A morning nap, drinking wine in the afternoon, indulging in childish talk, or idling the time away with ignorant people, takes a person out of this world.” (Avot 3:10)

Rabbi Yossi Bannai "Tzaddik HaLavan"
Located in the women’s section of the Tzaddik HaLavan synagogue, in the lower section of the old city, on Mekubalim Street, just above the Great Breslev Synagogue.
A Tanna, he lived in the time of Rabbi Meir. The Midrash brings a dialogue between him and a gentile philosopher concerning the creation of the world. (Shemot Rabba 13:1)