powered by FreeFind	Baraam 38 pictures     1.30 minutes HQ video In the old village of Biram, located three kilometers north of Hiram Junction, on the side of the Northern Route, lived a Jewish community during the period of the Mishna and the Talmud. Traces of two synagogues are found there. The Ancient Synagogue of the Old Village of Baraam The bigger and fancier synagogue of the two is the one which was well preserved. In present days, it is an attraction for visitors. The smaller synagogue was recently excavated, and nothing but foundations remained. It is located approximately 300m northeast of the bigger synagogue. The first excavations, which were fairly limited, took place as early as 1905, by the archeologists Kohl and Wantziger. In later years, the site was reconstructed and preserved by the Authority of Antiquities and the National Park Authority. In 1988, modern scientific excavations were held in the site, sponsored by the Authority of Antiquities and Rochester University. Although the village Baraam is not mentioned in the Jewish texts, there are evidences of Jewish medieval travelers about both synagogues being there. The Great Synagogue The reconstructed synagogue is a rectangular structure, 15.2x 20m. Its front is headed south, toward Jerusalem, as most ancient synagogues in the Galilee do. However, this synagogue is different from the others because of the front portico which consists of six columns, and a well. There are three openings in the front wall. The middle one, which is also the biggest opening, has a doorpost decorated with a wreath. The carving on the upper part of it shows traces of a grapevine and bunches of grapes, and on either side, traces of two winged figures. Above the opening an arc was built, in order to decrease the pressure from the upper structure. Of the two side openings, the eastern one should be mentioned , for on the bottom of the window above it, an Aramaic dedication is engraved, saying "The Sons of Elazar Ben Judan". The sanctuary is similar in its plans to the other synagogues in the Galilee. The inner walls are rough, since they were covered with the plaster that fell off. The three rows of columns in the hall, shaped like the Hebrew letter "Het" (a rectangle with a missing side below), were meant to bear the second floor as well as the ceiling. Parts of the gable set, which was bearing the second floor, are laid southeast of the structure in present days. The floor of the hall was made of stone boards and benches. There are no traces of any of the above objects, nor was the spot of the Holy Arc, although a rampant lion statue was discovered in the excavations. The statue probably stood near the Arc. The small, destroyed synagogue was photographed by a research British delegation in 1865. That building, too, faces Jerusalem, like most ancient synagogues in the Galilee. The hall of the synagogue, however, is different because there is a colonnade (portico) of six columns, in its front, and a well. There are three openings in the front wall. The central opening, the largest one, has a doorpost with a bouquet. The carving on the upper part of it, shows traces of a grapevine and bunches of grapes, and on its side, there are traces of two winged figures. Above that opening, an arc was built, in order to release the pressure which came from the upper structure. The eastern opening, one of the two side openings, is important because on the bottom of the window above it a dedication in Aramaic inscribed, saying: "The Sons of Elazar, son of Judan". The sanctuary's plan is similar to the other synagogues of the Galilee. The inner walls are rough, since they were covered with fallen off plaster. The three rows of columns in the hall, shaped like the Hebrew letter "Het" (ח) , were meant to hold the second level and the ceiling. Parts of the gable set, which held the second level, are currently laying southeast of the structure. The hall floor was made of stone tablets, and nothing remained of the benches which were placed along the walls. The spot of the Holy Arc was not found, either, though a statue of a lion, which probably stood by the Arc, was found in the excavation. A photograph of the small, destroyed synagogue was taken by a British research team in 1865. That building faces Jerusalem as well, and is planned like the other synagogues in the Galilee. The entrance doorpost is similar to the one at the Great Synagogue, with an inscription: "(Let there) be peace in this place and all of the places in Israel. Jose HaLevi made this doorpost. May his deeds be blessed. Peace". Presently, the doorpost is exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, and a copy of it is exhibited in Bar David Museum in Kibbutz Baraam. The recent excavations in both synagogues indicate that the buildings were built at the end of the fourth century, or the beginning of the fifth century. The phenomenon of incongruence between the archeological and the architectural findings are not also exists in other synagogues, and is currently being researched. In the village Baraam Maroon Christians were settled, who were vacated from it during the Independence War. On top of the hill, south of the Great synagogue, there is a Maroon church, which is active on holidays and special occasions. Traces of Buildings A Church near the Synagogue Back to Israel Index