In a groundbreaking discovery, Israeli archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a 1,500-year-old synagogue hidden beneath the ruins of an abandoned Syrian village in the Golan Heights. This remarkable find sheds new light on Jewish life during the Byzantine period and deepens the historical connection between the Jewish people and the region.
📍 Rediscovering Yehudiya: A Village Built on Sacred Ground
The excavation took place in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve, a scenic area known for its waterfalls and canyons. The reserve is named after the Syrian village of Yehudiya, which was inhabited until Israel captured the area in 1967. For decades, researchers suspected that the village was built atop ancient Jewish ruins, but the exact location of the synagogue remained elusive.
Dr. Mechael Osband of the University of Haifa and Prof. Haim Ben-David of Kinneret Academic College led the excavation. Their team documented over 150 architectural fragments scattered throughout the village, including Doric capitals, column bases, and a stone engraved with a menorah—clear indicators of a synagogue.
🧱 Unearthing the Structure
After years of surveying, the team opened a small probe in December 2024 and discovered a stone floor and the base of a column. Encouraged by the find, they returned in July 2025 for a full-scale excavation. What they uncovered was astonishing: the southern wall of the synagogue, featuring three entranceways and a basilica-style layout with rows of columns and benches along the walls.
Among the artifacts was a “tabula ansata”—a large rectangular stone tablet with dovetail handles, typically used for inscriptions in Roman and Greek architecture. Although no writing was visible, researchers hope that advanced imaging technology might reveal faded text.
🕯️ A Testament to Jewish Continuity
The synagogue, estimated to be 13 meters wide and at least 17 meters long, joins a network of around 25 ancient synagogues found in the Golan Heights. According to Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, these structures were not only places of worship but also centers for Torah study and community life.
This discovery reinforces the historical presence of Jewish communities in the Golan during the Roman and Byzantine eras, offering tangible evidence of their cultural and spiritual legacy.
“The abandoned Syrian village is built on top of ancient remains,” said Dr. Osband. “You’d walk into a house and see a pillar in the middle used as a support for the roof, or a Doric capital underneath an archway.”
📰 Source
This article is based on reporting from MSN News, The Times of Israel, and The Jerusalem Post.
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