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Eshtemoa synagogue
Former ancient synagogue in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Eshtemoa Synagogue was an ancient Jewish synagogue, now an archeological site, located 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Hebron in as-Samu, West Bank, in the State of Palestine. The remains of the ancient Palestinian synagogue date from around the 4th–5th century CE.
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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]
Architecture and description
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 by 21.3 metres (44 by 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]
Aftermath of the Islamic conquest
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 Saladin (in the 12th century), rather than during the early Muslim conquest of the Levant.[5] Robert Schick suggests that the conversion may have taken place in the 10th century instead of during the Umayyad period.[9]
A Crusader church was constructed near the eastern side of the synagogue in the 12th century.[5]
Modern era
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.[10]
In 2024, the synagogue was the targeted in an arson attack. Local settler activists described it as an attempt to "erase Jewish identity".[11]
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