Remains of ancient synagogue uncovered in Israel’s Golan region

An ancient synagogue whose location had remained a mystery for years has finally been uncovered during an excavation by the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa.

The dig took place at the Yehudiyya Nature Reserve in the Golan Heights, a nature reserve managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

During the excavation, dozens of architectural elements were discovered – decorated lintels, (horizontal beams placed over an opening in a wall), column drums, and carefully crafted basalt stones. Each tells a story of a thriving Jewish community that flourished here approximately 1,500 years ago.

The uncovered structure is 13 metres wide and at least 17 metres long, with two rows of columns and benches along the walls – an architectural design typical of synagogues in Israel during the Byzantine period.

Additional items – including bench fragments and parts of a Torah ark – were scattered throughout, some in stone collapses and others taken for reuse in later periods. Among the most special finds are menorah decorations, attesting to the site’s importance in community life.

Commenting on the extraordinary find, Dr Mechael Osband from the Zinman Institute of Archeology said: “During long-term research we conducted together with Prof. Haim Ben-David and Dr. Benny Arubas, we documented over 150 architectural items throughout the reserve. Most were found incorporated in secondary use in the abandoned village, but the original structure they came from remained a puzzle. The breakthrough came when researchers identified an unusual concentration of items and column drums at one specific point. This is where we decided to dig.”

Osband adds that the results “exceeded expectations. Already at the start of the excavation, dozens of items were revealed, and later, to our surprise was uncovered, the southern wall of the synagogue, with three entrances facing directly toward Jerusalem.”

Twenty five ancient synagogues from the Roman and Byzantine periods have already been uncovered in the Golan – from the first century BCE to the 7th-8th centuries CE.

Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef, archaeologist with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said: “The discovery testifies more than anything to the depth of Jewish settlement in the Golan. These synagogues weren’t just places of prayer. They served as learning centres, community gathering places, and hubs for disseminating Jewish culture and knowledge. Here, Jews of all ages studied, from children to the elderly.”

The excavation continues, with plans to make it accessible to visitors once complete.