Katzrin ancient village and synagogue

The Katzrin ancient village and synagogue (Hebrew: קצרין העתיקה‎; also Qasrin and Kasrin, from the Arabic Qisrin) is an open-air museum located in the Golan Heights on the outskirts of the Israeli settlement of Katzrin. It features the partially reconstructed remains of a village from the 4th-8th century CE, that is: mainly from the Byzantine period, but starting from the Late Roman and extending into the Early Muslim era (Rashidun and Umayyad periods), or in Jewish terms from the Talmudic period.

History: archaeological site and park

The ancient Jewish farming village of Katzrin was built around a spring, which still flowed until recently. Above-ground ruins already existed at the site, and archaeological excavations have increased the number of accessible ancient buildings. An ancient synagogue was discovered in 1967 and excavated between 1971 and 1984. Other parts of the village were excavated beginning in 1983. Some of the buildings have been reconstructed on their ancient foundations and furnished with replicas of household goods and tools. An ancient wine press and olive press have also been made functional with new ropes and beams. Costumed guides demonstrate and explain in Hebrew and English construction methods, agricultural and manufacturing processes.

Synagogue

History

The Katzrin Synagogue was built in the 6th century CE atop a more modest, probably late-4th-century synagogue. Fragments of a mosaic floor have been found. The synagogue was apparently destroyed by the catastrophic 749 earthquake. In the Mamluk period, part of the standing ruin was roofed and used as a mosque. After a brief period, this use and the village itself were abandoned until 1967.

Description

The synagogue had two rows of four columns each. The building was two stories tall with rows of windows at the top of the walls. The roof was built of wooden beams covered with ceramic tiles. In the southern wall, which faces Jerusalem, two massive stone steps lead to a raised stone platform (bimah). It is thought that a wooden Torah ark would have stood here. Under the bimah there is a long, stone-paved space thought to have served as a geniza (storage space for sacred texts no longer in use). The walls were plastered and painted white, with the lower walls decorated with red geometric motifs. The walls were lined with stone benches in the form of a double step.

The basalt lintel of one of the houses unearthed in the Golan bears a Hebrew inscription that reads: "This is the beit midrash of Rabbi Elazar the Caper Maker." This discovery ties in with a discussion in the Talmud that revolves around wearing new shoes on the Sabbath: What are new shoes? Shoes that have not “walked” a certain distance, in this case the distance between the synagogue at Katzrin and the beit midrash of Rabbi Elazar the Caper Maker.

See also

  • Archaeology of Israel
  • Oldest synagogues in the world
Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
There are no tips nor hints for Katzrin ancient village and synagogue yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)
Map
Neve Promenade 7, Qatsrin Get directions
Other languages

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Cozy Home Style Hostel in the Heart of the Golan

starting $0

Eden's Boutique

starting $296

Liats Cabins

starting $150

Villa Romantica

starting $222

La Pace Boutique Resort

starting $238

Black and White Holiday Homes

starting $179

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Bethsaida

All articles lacking sources

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Gamla

Gamla (Hebrew גמלא Gamla or Gamala), a site inhabited since the Ear

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tel Hazor

Tel Hazor (Hebrew: תל חצור‎), also Hatzor, is a tell above the site of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Rujm el-Hiri

Rujm el-Hiri (Arabic: رجم الهرة‎, Rujm al-Hīrī, also romanized

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Capernaum

Capernaum (Шаблон:Pron-en Шаблон:Respell; he-n. כְּפַר נַחו

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kursi, Israel

Kursi, Israel is the ruins of a Byzantine Christian monastery and now

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hula Valley

The Hula Valley (Hebrew: עמק החולה‎, Emek HaHula) is an agricultu

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Jubb Yussef (Joseph's Well)

The ruins at Jubb Yussef ('Joseph’s Well' in English, Arabic: ج

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Biskupin

Biskupin is an archaeological site and a life-size model of an Iron

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum

Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum (Turkish: Karatepe-Aslantaş Açık Hav

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Eindhoven Museum

The Eindhoven Museum is an archaeological open air museum in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Workshop

Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Workshop is an open-air museum and

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex

The Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex (Bulgarian:

See all similar places