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The reconstructed synagogue at Ein Keshatot

The reconstructed synagogue at Ein Keshatot is the largest and most impressive of the more than 30 ancient synagogues discovered in the Golan Heights, and this visitor-friendly site has deservedly become a popular tourist destination.

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VISITING THE SYNAGOGUE

 

Directions: Enter “Ein Keshatot” into Waze. 

Admission details: From March to October, the site is open Sunday to Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday and holiday eve: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. From November to February, it is open Sunday to Thursday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Friday and holiday eve: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The last entry is one hour before closing. Admission is 25 nis for adults, and 15 nis for children older than 5 and pensioners. Their phone number is 04-685 1002. This is their website. 

Public transport: The closest bus stop is in Natur, and Ein Keshatot is a 2.5 Km/28-minute walk from there. Enter "Natur" into Moovit. There are buses to Natur from Aniam, Katzrin, Tiberias, Jerusalem, Mevo Hama, and the Degania area.

Synagogue at Ein Keshotot.jpeg

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VISITING THE SITE: 

 

First view the movie about the reconstruction of the synagogue shown in the Visitor Center. Then make your way down the hill to the pools on the left. The arch by the spring on the right was dug out and uncovered, while the other two were reconstructed. The purpose of these arches is unclear, but they were presumably for decoration. The two pools on the left provided water for drinking for humans and animals, while that on the right was for industrial use, in particular for the whitening of flax for textile manufacturing, which was an important activity here. This and the growing of olives and production of olive oil were the main industries of this village.

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Now make your way to the synagogue. The front entrance on its southern wall faces Jerusalem. A covered patio is supported by four pillars. The front of the building is asymmetric in terms of the doorway and position of the stone ark. The pillars inside the building supported a second story and their placing is also not completely symmetric. It would seem that symmetry was not an overriding concern to the architects of this building.

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Note the symbols graven onto the pillars encompassing the stone ark – namely a seven-branch menorah (candelabra), a lulav and esrog (which are two of the Four Species used on the festival of Tabernacles/Succot), and an incense shovel. All of these were formerly used in the Temple. The stone ark would have contained a wooden ark for the Torah, but this has not survived.

Steon ark.jpeg

The stone ark in the synagogue at Ein Keshatot

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