Pictures from the Holyland » Upper Galilee

Naburia

dgrushko — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:23:13 +0000

Naburia (Nevoraia, Nevoraya, Naburiya) - a small Jewish village was situated in the heart of what now is Biriya Forest. The settlement was founded in the Iron Age, and existed all through the First Temple Period (8th-12th centuries BC). The Jewish settlement that flourished here in the Second Temple Period (536 BC – 70 AD) and the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods (1st-6th centuries AD) was identified as Naburia.

Archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of the village’s magnificent synagogue, one of the oldest in the Galilee. The first synagogue at the site was enlarged during the third century, apparently due to the expansion of the settlement; it was later destroyed in an earthquake in 363 C.E.

The settlement continued for 200 years, and in 564 they rebuilt the synagogue. The exact date is known from the inscription that adorned the central doorpost: “Built four hundred and ninety four years after the destruction of the temple under the leadership of Hanina ben Lizar and Luliana bar Yuden”. The mentioning of dates in synagogue inscriptions is very rare. The inscription is displayed today at the Israel Museum.

The synagogue building stood until approximately 640 C.E. At the site today there are two rows of four columns. The façade of the synagogue was partially reconstructed by the JNF and Antiquities Authority.

The Synagogue

Entrance to escape tunnel

Bar’am

dgrushko — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:14:24 +0000

Baram was a prosperous village during the first to the seventh centuries AD. The remain of two ancient synagogues were discovered here: the “Large” synagogue with its richly carved bas-reliefs, and the “small” synagogue, with few remains.

The “Large” synagogue was constructed from large and particularly beautiful hewn stones. The size of the building is evidence that a highly successful Jewish community lived in this area during the fourth and fifth centuries. The facade, which is preserved almost in its entirety, is especially remarkable. All three gates face Jerusalem and are decorated with exquisite stone engravings; the imposing center gate is especially ornate. Little remains from Baram’s second, smaller synagogue, apart form the lintel now on display at the Louvre.

Meron

dgrushko — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:03:55 +0000

The synagogue of Meron (Miron) is located in the village of Meron in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near Safed. Meron is most famous for the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a first-century rabbi, who contributed greatly to the Mishna, is often quoted in the Talmud, and to whom is attributed authorship of the kabbalistic book of Zohar. Among other leading early rabbinical figures buried in Meron are Hillel, Shammai snd Rabbi Elazor son of Shimon.

The synagogue is located near Rabbi Shimon tomb, dating the times of Mishna and Talmud (third and fourth centuries A. D.).

The Synagogue

Shema

dgrushko — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:02:41 +0000

Shema (Khirbet Shema) is located on one of the eastern spurs of Mt.Meron, some 760 m above sea level and just south of the ancient site of Meiron. Shema has been identified with Talmudic Tequo’a. Archaeological work indicates an interconnected history for the two Galilean sites from at least the 2nd century AD, when Shema may have functioned as a suburb or an adjunct to Meron.

The Synagogue

The western entrance

The northern entrance

The Ark of the law

Wine and Oil Press

Burial cave

Mausoleum or ?