One of the most surprising things about the Golan Heights is how many ancient synagogues are scattered across its landscape. More than 25 synagogues dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods have been identified on the Golan plateau, and several of them are remarkably well-preserved, with carved basalt stone, elaborate decorations, and architectural details that rival anything found in the Galilee.
The density of synagogues tells a story that most visitors do not expect: the Golan Heights was once home to a thriving Jewish community that lasted for centuries, from the Second Temple period through the Byzantine era, and left behind some of the most impressive religious architecture in ancient Israel.
Katzrin Synagogue
The best-preserved and most accessible ancient synagogue on the Golan is at Katzrin, the modern capital of the Golan Heights. The synagogue, dating to the 4th-6th centuries CE, has been partially reconstructed using its original basalt stones, and the result is stunning. The building features two rows of columns creating a central nave, carved stone benches along the walls, and a richly decorated entrance facing Jerusalem.
Adjacent to the synagogue, an entire Talmudic-era village has been reconstructed, with houses, an olive press, and daily-life exhibits that give visitors a vivid picture of how the Jewish community on the Golan lived 1,500 years ago. The combination of the synagogue and the village makes Katzrin one of the best places in Israel to understand Jewish life in the late Roman and Byzantine periods.
Umm el-Kanatir: The Miracle of Reconstruction
Umm el-Kanatir, whose Arabic name means “Mother of the Arches,” is home to one of the most remarkable archaeological restoration projects in Israel. The synagogue here, dating to the 6th century CE, was toppled by an earthquake in 749 CE. The building collapsed, but because it was built of massive basalt blocks, virtually every stone survived and remained on the site.
In one of the most ambitious archaeological reconstructions ever attempted, engineer Yeshu Dray used 3D scanning technology to map every fallen stone and calculate its original position. The synagogue is being reassembled like a giant three-dimensional puzzle, with each original stone returned to its exact location. The project has revealed a building of extraordinary beauty, with elaborate carved decorations, a two-story facade, and a sophisticated water system that fed a pool near the entrance.
Visiting Umm el-Kanatir feels like watching a building come back to life. Walls that lay scattered for 1,300 years are standing again, and the craftsmanship of the original builders is visible in every carved basalt block.
Other Synagogues
The Golan synagogues are spread across the plateau, from the northern heights near Banias to the southern cliffs above the Sea of Galilee. Notable examples include the synagogue at Gamla, the ancient Jewish city that fell to the Romans in 67 CE, and the synagogue at Deir Aziz, which features a beautifully carved lintel with a wreath and menorah motif.
Many of the synagogues share common architectural features: basalt construction, facades facing Jerusalem, carved decorations including menorahs, pomegranates, and geometric patterns, and a layout based on the basilica plan common to synagogues throughout the Roman and Byzantine Levant. The use of local basalt gives them a distinctive dark, heavy appearance that contrasts with the lighter limestone synagogues of the Galilee.
What the Synagogues Tell Us
The concentration of synagogues on the Golan Heights points to a substantial and prosperous Jewish community that existed here for centuries. These were not poor, marginal settlements. The quality of the stone carving, the size of the buildings, and the sophistication of the architecture all indicate communities with resources, education, and connections to the wider Jewish world.
The community appears to have ended in the 7th-8th centuries, likely due to a combination of the Arab conquest and devastating earthquakes. The synagogues were abandoned, collapsed, and gradually buried under centuries of soil and grass, waiting to be rediscovered by modern archaeologists.
Visit the Golan Synagogues with Hoshen Tours
The ancient synagogues of the Golan Heights are a fascinating addition to any tour of the region. Hoshen Tours includes Katzrin and Umm el-Kanatir in itineraries that combine archaeology with the natural beauty and modern history of the Golan, creating a day that spans two thousand years on one volcanic plateau.
Because the Golan Heights is not just a modern story. It is an ancient one, written in basalt and carved with menorahs.