Synagogue

Abstract

~Umm el Kanatir is an ancient Roman-era Jewish settlement on the Golan Heights, now an archeological site being developed into an Archaeological Park. The meaning of the Arabic name is "mother of the arches", probably named after monumental Roman basalt arches that were erected over water basins that collected spring water in the site. Only one of the arches survived. It is believed that the income generated by the linen industry enabled the villagers to construct the monumental 6th-century synagogue. The synagogue was probably built on the site of a more modest, 5th century synagogue. The large synagogue was destroyed in an earthquake that occurred in the Golan Heights circa 749 AD. The synagogue's dimensions were 18 by 13 meters, with a height of 12 meters, making it one of the largest ancient synagogues in the region. Neither the synagogue nor the town was rebuilt after the earthquake of 749 AD