Page 18 - Holyland Magazine - 2019 Edition
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Mosaic, the Orpheus Mosaic and more. scale archeological digs have uncovered the Good to know!
Also visit the impressive water system, with center of town, complete with town houses
its huge reservoir (150,000 cubic ft.) and and a splendid synagogue from the Talmudic Bet Shearim National Park is home
narrow six-shaft tunnel. and Mishnaic periods. A unique architectural to a one-time Jewish town and is
feature is called the Korazim Windows, with the burial place of Rabbi Yehuda
A tour of Zippori provides a glimpse into the inner walls cut into built-in closets that open HaNasi, one of the most prominent
past of a rich and cosmopolitan city, home to from both sides of the wall. figures in Jewish history in the 2nd
Jews, Pagans, Christians and Muslims. and 3rd centuries AD. Upon his
The exterior of the beautiful synagogue death, it became a major burial
At the top of the hill stands a citadel, with a faces Jerusalem, with worshippers entering ground for Jews in the Land of Israel
gorgeous rooftop view of the Upper Galilee, through three impressive portals, then and the Diaspora, all wishing to be
Safed, Mt. Meron and the hills of Nazareth, turning around inside to pray facing the buried next to him. In 2015, the Bet
all the way to Mt. Carmel and Mt. Hermon. Holy City. The Holy Ark was up against the Shearim necropolis was declared
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has southern wall, between the main portal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
set up access roads, paths for people with the side one. During prayer, the three main The 30 underground burial cave
disabilities, as well as a Visitor Center with a portals were closed and only one small complexes carved into the bedrock
souvenir shop, a model of the city and some door on the western side admitted late- hold about 2,000 burial niches
explanatory films and illustrative panels. comers. The houses were built of black and 150 sarcophagi. The walls are
basalt abundantly found in the area. The decorated with reliefs of animal
According to one Christian tradition, Zippori town houses and commoners’ houses were and human images, and hundreds
was home to Anne and Joachim, Mary’s built of roughly finished stones, while the of inscriptions in four languages,
parents and Jesus’ grandparents. A church synagogue stones were meticulously hewn listing the names, occupations and
was built here in Crusader times, with by master stonemasons. The stones of the places of origin of the deceased.
daffodil beds planted in the shape of Latin synagogue were covered with many reliefs, One highlight is over 80 examples
words: “Hail St. Anne & St. Joachim.” The including lions, vultures and people pressing of the menorah. This: Jewish symbol
church stands near a separate entrance, on grapes, Medusa’s head, acanthus leaves, appears everywhere, with drawings,
the western side of the Zippori National Park. flowers, conch shells, garlands and more. reliefs and etchings. It seems like
the Jewish heart of the Mishnah and
Korazim National Park is home Also found on the premises was a basalt Talmud continues to throb in this
chair inscribed in Aramaic. This is called the magical place to this day. The site
remnants of another Jewish town from Seat of Moses, and according to the New has a cafeteria and a souvenir shop.
the Second Temple period, well into the Testament and Talmud, this is where the
Mishnah and the Talmud periods. This place reader of the Torah sat. The Israel Nature
is mentioned in the New Testament, along and Parks Authority recently set up a special
with Bethsaida and Capernaum - which accessible path for people with disabilities.
Jesus cursed because they did not heed his
teachings. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to Dr. Tsvika Tsuk is the chief archaeologist of the Israel
you, Bethsaida!” (Matthew 11:21). Large- Nature and Parks Authority
The synagogue in Korazim. Bet Shearim. Front of the burial cave
Photo: Reuven Riban complexes. Photo: Tsvika Tsuk
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