A visit to the past - 2000 years ago

Our guide, Asaf Salamon, has studied archaeology among his many preparations for becoming a tour guide.  He spoke with us about some details of Jewish history.  After the Roman conquest there were a number of uprisings.  One began in 66 CE and ended with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the events at Masada which we will visit next week.  Another began around 135 CE, led by Simon Bar-Kochba (the discussion of his name is a subject for another time).  Both of these rebellions had some successes and forced the Romans to bring their elite generals and legions to Palestine to put them down, and both ended tragically for the Jews.

After the Bar-Kochba rebellion, the surviving leaders recognized that traditional Judaism was no longer possible, since it centered around sacrifices and other events at the Temple in Jerusalem and that the Temple would not be rebuilt any time soon.  In order for Judaism to survive, alternative techniques were necessary.   Over many decades, the concept of local houses of worship - the early synagogues - and prayers to be recited in these houses of worship - came into being.  There have been many synagogues found dated from about 500 CE and later, but there is less information about the earlier years.

When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE, many of the religious leaders were killed.   After the Bar-Kochba rebellion, many more were.   There was a surviving group of rabbis in northern Israel, and they and their descendants played a prominent role in the subsequent developments.

For this reason, Asaf's professor felt that there were locations in northern Israel where there might have been settlements with a house of worship.   He selected a location in Wadi Hammam, on the Cliffs of Arbel, by the Sea of Galilee (also known as Lake Kinneret).  Although the site is up a steep hill, and then protected by a fence of barbed wire, he led us into the site and showed us the excavations that have been done so far!  The digging has uncovered a number of one-room houses that may have belonged to ordinary families.  A more elaborate structure was excavated a short distance away; it is possible that this was the synagogue.   There is much more work to be done, but archaeology never happens quickly!

Here is a link to some articles by Asaf;s professor; this will  provide more information.
https://huji.academia.edu/uzileibner 


  

Probably a small house.  The wooden parts such as the roof are long gone, but the walls and windows remain.

Rose examines a column which may have been part of the synagogue

This piece of a mosaic floor would have indicated an important building, such as a synagogue

These heart-shaped stones must have served an important purpose in the design of the building.

This was most likely an olive oil press