Archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of a 1,500-year-old synagogue in Israel’s Golan Heights, offering powerful evidence of Jewish life and worship in the region during the Byzantine period. The find, made in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve beneath the remains of an abandoned Syrian village, was announced by researchers from the University of Haifa’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology, Kinneret Academic College, and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The basilica-style synagogue, dating to the 5th or 6th century AD, measures roughly 13 by 17 meters and features basalt columns, stone benches, and three doorways in its southern wall—each oriented toward Jerusalem. Excavators discovered decorated lintels, column drums, and fragments believed to belong to a Torah ark, many of which had been repurposed or buried under collapsed stone over centuries.

Dr. Mechael Osband, the lead archaeologist, described the structure as “a striking testimony to the endurance and devotion of Jewish communities in the Golan,” noting that over 30 similar synagogues have been found throughout the area. These ancient sites served as houses of prayer, study, and education—centers where Torah was taught and Jewish culture preserved even amid shifting empires. Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority called the find “clear evidence of a thriving Jewish settlement in the Golan 1,500 years ago,” with further excavations planned for next summer. The discovery ties into Israel’s broader archaeological narrative of faith, resilience, and restoration — a reminder that the same land where prophets once walked continues to bear witness to Israel’s unbroken heritage and prophetic destiny.

SOURCE: VINnews