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Synagogue

Synagogue archaeology in Israel spans nearly two thousand years, from Masada through the Roman-Byzantine Galilee to the 16th-century synagogues of Tzefat. Posts here cover the Tzefat synagogues, the ancient Galilee synagogues with their mosaic floors, and the Jewish Quarter’s living synagogues in Jerusalem.

5 articles

5 articles
Inside the Josef Caro Synagogue
North · Galilee

Safed / Tzefat

A return to Tzefat, where I spent three months on my gap year, this time as a guiding student. Akhbara, Mt Canaan, the kabbalists' synagogues of the Old City and a sunset over the Crusader citadel.

View from Akhbara Lookout View over Tzefat and Mt Meiron from Mt Canaan Inside the Ashkenazi Synagogue of the Ari Ruins of a 16th century communal building in Tzefat Inside the Josef Caro Synagogue Mamluk and Crusader ruins in the Tzefat Citadel
Nabi Shu'ayb (Tomb of Jethro)
North · Galilee

Eastern Lower Galilee

A field trip around the eastern lower Galilee, the basalt-cliff region between the Sea of Galilee and the central Galilee: Mount Arbel and its ancient synagogue, the Druze shrine of Nabi Shu'aib, ancient Korazim, Domus Galilaeae and Tel Mutilla.

View north from the Arbel cliff face Ancient synagogue of Arbel Nabi Shu'ayb (Tomb of Jethro) Ancient synagogue of Korazim Musical presentation at Domus Galilaeae View over the Sea of Galilee from Tel Mutilla
View from the southern wall of Masada
South · Judean Desert

Masada

A return visit to Masada, the desert fortress and UNESCO site above the Dead Sea: the cistern network, the Roman ramp, the Byzantine church mosaic, the Western Palace, the Northern Palace and one of the world’s oldest synagogues.

Huge cistern at Masada Stunning Herodian mosaic in the Western Palace at Masada View from the southern wall of Masada Masada Synagogue - one of the oldest in the world View north from Masada towards Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea. Note the remains of the Roman camp on the left.
Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue (part of the 'Four Sephardi Synagogues' complex)
Centre · Jerusalem

The Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem

A walk through the modern history of the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, visiting the Ramban, the Four Sephardi Synagogues, Tiferet Yisrael, the Karaite Centre and the Hurva, and closing at the memorial for those who fell in 1948.

Letter from the Ramban outside the Ramban Synagogue Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue (part of the 'Four Sephardi Synagogues' complex) 13th century Karaite Torah scroll The 'Hurva' Synagogue View from the top of the 'Hurva' Synagogue View over the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, Jerusalem. Independence War Memorial of the Jewish Quarter
Pekiin Synagogue
North · Galilee

Campus Upper Galilee day two: Central Upper Galilee

Day two of our Upper Galilee campus: the Druze village of Pekiin and its synagogue, Nebi Sabalan, the summit of Mt Meron, the Paar Cave, the tomb of the Rashbi, Rehaniya's Circassian community, and the Baram synagogue.

Pekiin Synagogue View east from Nebi Sabalan View from the summit of Mt Meron Paar Cave Inside the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (the Rashbi) Traditional Circassian dress in Rihaniya Ancient synagogue at Baram
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