The Eshtemoa Synagogue, located 15 km south of Hebron in as-Samu, West Bank, refers to the remains of an ancient Jewish synagogue dating from around the 4th–5th century CE.
Eshtemoa, identified as modern as-Samu, was an ancient city named in the Bible (Joshua 21:14). During Roman and Byzantine period, Eshtemoa was described as a large Jewish village.[1]
The Jerusalem Talmud (Nedarim 6:10 - Leiden Ms.) recalls a man who lived there, named Ḥasa of Eshtemoa.
Description of synagogueEdit
The remains of the synagogue were identified by L. A. Mayer and A. Reifenberg in 1934,[2] in which site they describe a recess in the wall, once used as a Torah Ark ("Heikhal").[3][4] In 1969–70, a full excavation of the site under the guidance of Ze'ev Yeivin revealed that the building occupied the most prominent site in the village. Ancillary buildings attached to the synagogue were removed in order to reveal the old structure.[5] The old synagogue was built in "broadhouse" style without columns and measured 13.3 m (44 ft) by 21.3 m (70 ft).[6] Entry was by any of three doors along its eastern side and one of the three niches recessed into the northern wall functioned as the Torah Ark. The building housed a mosaic floor and displayed external ornamental carvings.[1] Four seven-branched menorahs were discovered carved onto door lintels and one of them is displayed in Jerusalem's Rockefeller Museum.[7] Along the northern and southern walls of the synagogue were built two benches, one on top of the other, of which only remnants remain.[5]
After the Muslim conquest, the synagogue was converted into a mosque and a mihrab was added.[6][8] The mihrab was built in place of the bench that ran along its southern wall.[5] According to a local tradition, this addition was made during the conquest of Salah a-Din, rather than during the early Muslim conquest of the Levant.[5]
The western wall is still standing to a height of 7 m (23 ft).[6] Many architectural elements of the building have been reused in the modern village.[9]
Near the eastern flank of the synagogue there was built a Crusader church in the 12th-century.[5]
ReferencesEdit
^ abAvraham Negev; Shimon Gibson (July 2005). Archaeological encyclopedia of the Holy Land. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 167–168. ISBN978-0-8264-8571-7. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
^Mayer, L.A.; Reifenberg, A. (1939). "The Synagogue of Eshtemoa - Preliminary Report". Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society (JPOS). 19: 314–326. OCLC 873183425.
^Press, I., ed. (1951), "אשתמוע", A Topographical-Historical Encyclopaedia of Palestine, vol. 1, Jerusalem: Rubin Mass, p. 26 (folio iii)
^ abcdeAmit, David (n.d.). "es-Samua'". In Ben-Yosef, Sefi (ed.). Israel Guide - Judaea (A useful encyclopedia for the knowledge of the country) (in Hebrew). Vol. 9. Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House, in affiliation with the Israel Ministry of Defence. pp. 146–149. OCLC 745203905.
^ abcGünter Stemberger (2000). Jews and Christians in the Holy Land: Palestine in the fourth century. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 150. ISBN978-0-567-08699-0. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
^Léon Yarden (1971). The tree of light: a study of the Menorah, the seven-branched lampstand. East and West Library. p. 151. ISBN9780852222805. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
^Nadia Abu El-Haj (2001). Facts on the ground: archaeological practice and territorial self-fashioning in Israeli society. University of Chicago Press. p. 78. ISBN978-0-226-00195-1. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
^Raphael Greenberg, Adi Keinan. Israeli Archaeological Activity in the West Bank 1967-2007: A Sourcebook, Ostracon 2009. pg. 136. ISBN978-965-91468-0-2.
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August 25, 2023
eshtemoa, synagogue, eshtemoa, synagogue, located, south, hebron, samu, west, bank, refers, remains, ancient, jewish, synagogue, dating, from, around, century, ancient, synagogue, eshtemoa, eshtemoa, ruins, 1975shown, within, west, banklocationwest, bankcoordi. The Eshtemoa Synagogue located 15 km south of Hebron in as Samu West Bank refers to the remains of an ancient Jewish synagogue dating from around the 4th 5th century CE Ancient synagogue Eshtemoa Eshtemoa ruins 1975Shown within the West BankLocationWest BankCoordinates31 24 03 N 35 04 01 E 31 400792 N 35 067075 E 31 400792 35 067075HistoryFounded4th 5th century CESite notesExcavation dates1934 1969 70 History Edit Seven branched menorah Eshtemoa synagogue Rockefeller MuseumEshtemoa identified as modern as Samu was an ancient city named in the Bible Joshua 21 14 During Roman and Byzantine period Eshtemoa was described as a large Jewish village 1 The Jerusalem Talmud Nedarim 6 10 Leiden Ms recalls a man who lived there named Ḥasa of Eshtemoa Description of synagogue Edit The remains of the synagogue were identified by L A Mayer and A Reifenberg in 1934 2 in which site they describe a recess in the wall once used as a Torah Ark Heikhal 3 4 In 1969 70 a full excavation of the site under the guidance of Ze ev Yeivin revealed that the building occupied the most prominent site in the village Ancillary buildings attached to the synagogue were removed in order to reveal the old structure 5 The old synagogue was built in broadhouse style without columns and measured 13 3 m 44 ft by 21 3 m 70 ft 6 Entry was by any of three doors along its eastern side and one of the three niches recessed into the northern wall functioned as the Torah Ark The building housed a mosaic floor and displayed external ornamental carvings 1 Four seven branched menorahs were discovered carved onto door lintels and one of them is displayed in Jerusalem s Rockefeller Museum 7 Along the northern and southern walls of the synagogue were built two benches one on top of the other of which only remnants remain 5 After the Muslim conquest the synagogue was converted into a mosque and a mihrab was added 6 8 The mihrab was built in place of the bench that ran along its southern wall 5 According to a local tradition this addition was made during the conquest of Salah a Din rather than during the early Muslim conquest of the Levant 5 The western wall is still standing to a height of 7 m 23 ft 6 Many architectural elements of the building have been reused in the modern village 9 Near the eastern flank of the synagogue there was built a Crusader church in the 12th century 5 References Edit a b Avraham Negev Shimon Gibson July 2005 Archaeological encyclopedia of the Holy Land Continuum International Publishing Group pp 167 168 ISBN 978 0 8264 8571 7 Retrieved 29 September 2010 Mayer L A Reifenberg A 1939 The Synagogue of Eshtemoa Preliminary Report Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society JPOS 19 314 326 OCLC 873183425 Press I ed 1951 אשתמוע A Topographical Historical Encyclopaedia of Palestine vol 1 Jerusalem Rubin Mass p 26 folio iii F M Abel Revue Biblique 35 1929 pp 585 ff a b c d e Amit David n d es Samua In Ben Yosef Sefi ed Israel Guide Judaea A useful encyclopedia for the knowledge of the country in Hebrew Vol 9 Jerusalem Keter Publishing House in affiliation with the Israel Ministry of Defence pp 146 149 OCLC 745203905 a b c Gunter Stemberger 2000 Jews and Christians in the Holy Land Palestine in the fourth century Continuum International Publishing Group p 150 ISBN 978 0 567 08699 0 Retrieved 29 September 2010 Leon Yarden 1971 The tree of light a study of the Menorah the seven branched lampstand East and West Library p 151 ISBN 9780852222805 Retrieved 29 September 2010 Nadia Abu El Haj 2001 Facts on the ground archaeological practice and territorial self fashioning in Israeli society University of Chicago Press p 78 ISBN 978 0 226 00195 1 Retrieved 29 September 2010 Raphael Greenberg Adi Keinan Israeli Archaeological Activity in the West Bank 1967 2007 A Sourcebook Ostracon 2009 pg 136 ISBN 978 965 91468 0 2 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eshtemoa old synagogue Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eshtemoa synagogue amp oldid 1153257651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
