₦airaland Forum

EXCAVATIONS IN THE GOLAN Heights HAVE REVEALED A 1,500-year-old SYNAGOGUE BUILT OF BASALT and HEWN STONE, OFFERING RARE EVIDENCE OF JEWISH CONTINUITY IN THE REGION.

A magnificent 1,500-year-old synagogue, whose location was previously unknown to experts, has been uncovered in an archaeological excavation within the Yehudiya Nature Reserve in the Golan Heights. The discovery was announced on Sunday morning following an excavation led by the Nature and Parks Authority and the University of Haifa.

The site, which dates back to the Roman and Byzantine periods (1st century BCE to 7th–8th centuries CE), was confirmed by the recovery of dozens of decorated architectural items, lintels, and basalt columns.

The focused excavation revealed the building's southern wall for the first time. It was constructed of ashlars, or hewn stone blocks, and included three distinct openings. Near these openings, researchers found two lintels, one of which is decorated, close to their original positions.

For years, the synagogue’s exact location remained a mystery, despite hundreds of architectural items from the Byzantine period having been documented in the area.

Dr. Michael Ezband from the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa explained that the breakthrough came during a multi-year study to document architectural items in the region. "We identified an unusual concentration of items and column fragments lying on a path in the abandoned modern village, and that's where we decided to conduct an inspection," he said.

"Already at the beginning of the excavation, dozens of architectural items were uncovered, and later, to our surprise, the southern wall of the building was also uncovered, with three openings facing Jerusalem," Dr. Ezband added.

The new find adds to the rich history of the Golan Heights during the Roman and Byzantine eras.

According to Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef, an archaeologist from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, this synagogue joins approximately 25 other ancient synagogues discovered in the Golan, "attesting to the firm hold of Judaism on the Golan".

Dr. Ben-Yosef noted that these synagogues served as centers not only for prayer but also for Jewish learning and literacy, visited by sages who spread knowledge throughout the community.

Righteousness2:
Pls tell me again— who exactly is the OCCUPIER, and who is the INDIGENOUS?

brain54:
You and all these your half thought arguments...

The discovery of this synagogue only establishes the presence of the Jewish settlement in the area which has never been in doubt.

It doesn't establish or pinpoint the Jews as the original occupiers of the land!

Hoaxen:
Really?
Oya show us a 1500 year old mosque in the land na

brain54:
What made you think any other original occupiers of the area must have been Muslims...
And would have built a mosque?
Islam didn't spread until after the 7th century. I hope you understand what that means?
My problem with you people has always those of you making this Muslim/Christian affair.
It's so myopic as compared to the complex nature of what is going on in the region!

brain54:
You and all these your half thought arguments...

The discovery of this synagogue only establishes the presence of the Jewish settlement in the area which has never been in doubt.

It doesn't establish or pinpoint the Jews as the original occupiers of the land.

No dey reason one sidely from the myopic lens of whatever!

Hoaxen:
Nice. And how did Islam spread to the land of Israel?

brain54:
You were the one that brought mosque into the conversation...
Jedaiam is the older religions with roots dating back to around 2000 BCE.
Islam, on the other hand was founded in the 7th century CE by the Prophet Muhammad.
Judaism is older than Islam by about 1,800 years.
So how do you expect to see mosques older or of similar age with synagogues in the area?

brain54:
Common sense should tell us that...

If a person encroaches on your land, displacing you in the process. He builds a school, house or whatever to develop the said land before you are able to.

It doesn't prove or pinpoint the encroacher as the original occupier of the land!

brain54:
You and all these your half thought arguments...

The discovery of this synagogue only establishes the presence of the Jewish settlement in the area which has never been in doubt.

It doesn't establish or pinpoint the Jews as the original occupiers of the land.

No dey reason one sidely from the myopic lens of whatever!

Orlandoo:
Golan heights. So many mysterious things surrounding it.

bewisemasses:
Scientists who many subconsciously believe are atheists are just discovering biblical (not necessarily this but other many discoveries) monuments daily. Indeed only a fool says there is no God

Apcnewrecruit:
So who are the original occupiers of the land, tell!

Here’s a *simplified historical timeline* of who ruled the land now known as *Israel/Palestine*, from ancient times to the modern era:

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📜 *Ancient History*

*c. 3000–1200 BCE* – *Canaanite city-states*
- Indigenous Canaanites lived in the region (modern-day Israel/Palestine).

*c. 1200–1000 BCE* – *Israelite Tribes*
- Hebrews (Israelites) settle in the land, as described in the Hebrew Bible.

*c. 1000–931 BCE* – *United Kingdom of Israel*
- Kings Saul, David, and Solomon rule over a united kingdom with *Jerusalem* as capital.

*931–722 BCE* – *Kingdoms of Israel (North) & Judah (South)*
- The kingdom splits.
- *Assyrians* conquer Israel (722 BCE).

*586 BCE* – *Babylonian Exile*
- *Babylonians* destroy the First Temple in Jerusalem. Jews exiled to Babylon.

*538–332 BCE* – *Persian Rule*
- Jews allowed to return and rebuild the Second Temple.

*332–63 BCE* – *Greek Rule (Hellenistic Period)*
- *Alexander the Great* conquers the region.
- Later ruled by *Seleucids* (Syrian Greeks).

*63 BCE–313 CE* – *Roman Rule*
- Romans take over.
- *Jesus is born* during this time.
- *70 CE:* Romans destroy the Second Temple.
- *135 CE:* Jews are expelled after the Bar Kokhba revolt.

---

🕍 *Middle Ages*

*313–636 CE* – *Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire*

brain54:
What made you think any other original occupiers of the area must have been Muslims...

And would have built a mosque?


Islam didn't spread until after the 7th century. I hope you understand what that means?


My problem with you people has always those of you making this Muslim/Christian affair.

It's so myopic as compared to the complex nature of what is going on in the region!