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The synagogue at Shfar'am and the tomb of Rabbi Yehuda ben Baba 

Shfar’am is a bit off the usual tourist track. Nevertheless, there are good reasons for paying it a visit. It is a mixed Druze, Arab and Christian town, which has developed a well-earned reputation for promoting co-existence between peoples of different faiths. It contains an intact synagogue from the 17th century CE, situated where the Sanhedrin once stood. The tomb of Rabbi Yehuda ben Abba, who died at the time of the Hadrianic persecution, is on the outskirts of Shfar’am. Both sites are stops on the Sanhedrin Trail.

VISITING THE SYNAGOGUE:

 

Directions: Enter “Shfar’am synagogue” into Waze and click on “Synagogue de Shefa Amr.” The synagogue in Shfar’am is part of the Sanhedrin Trail.

Admission: Call Nazem from the adjacent House of Hope at 054 219 0543 and arrange with him to open the door of the synagogue. There is a recording outside the synagogue in Hebrew or English that relates its history. This is not an active synagogue and it contains no interior decorations nor Sefer Torah.

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The synagogue in Shfar'am.

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For the overview "The Jews of the Lower Galilee and Shfar'am" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

Synagogue Shfaram II.jpeg

For the overview "Muslim, Christian, Druze and Jewish coexistence in Shfar'am" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

VISITING THE TOMB OF RABBI YEHUDA BEN BABA

Directions: Enter into Waze “Tomb of Rabbi Yehuda ben Baba” and click on “קבר רבי יהודה בן  בבא ,שפרעם“

Admission: There is a shaded room adjacent to the tomb with a long table and chairs. There are nearby restrooms. Opposite to the tomb and on the other side of the road is a footpath to nearby Usha.

Tomb of R ben Baba.jpeg

Inside the tiomb of Rabbi Yehuda ben Baba.

For the overview "The story of Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

Both Usha and Shfar’am are on the Sanhedrin Trail, a 70-Km trail that crosses the Lower Galilee and ends in Tiberias. See here for its Hebrew website).

Schvil Sanhedrin.jpeg

For the overview "Visiting the tombs of righteous sages" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

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