A first century synagogue was discovered at Migdal, also called Magdala. This is my favorite archaeological site from all the places that James took me to over the 3-day. In mid July 2024.
I know that I'm posting this about a month afterwards and I'm putting some more recent events in between, so just understand that this took place about 4 weeks ago.
Excavation revealed an entire Jewish town, including an ancient marketplace and fishermen’s quarters.
Only about 10% of the historical remains are currently exposed. So there may be many more exciting discoveries in the future.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a2c620_066bbec57c174cacb832ff35a61ad724~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a2c620_066bbec57c174cacb832ff35a61ad724~mv2.jpg)
The Story goes that a Catholic priest bought land by the ocean to build a Catholic hotel and Retreat Center and that as part of the requirements to build they had to get the Antiquities Department to sign off on it. When the representative of the Antiquities Department came to the site, they found that there was an entire city buried underneath the surface!
The site is not a tel. Rather, the Magdala Synagogue stands alone, with no archeological remains above or beneath it.
Currently, its foundations are visible, along with steps, seats and a fresco, all beautifully preserved.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a2c620_9974e1818a1f4bda9bff54f1a31f05bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a2c620_9974e1818a1f4bda9bff54f1a31f05bb~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a2c620_b27c0fa29d3e4f8d965d6827361e930d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a2c620_b27c0fa29d3e4f8d965d6827361e930d~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a2c620_ba8e2131dace4416b287e88e5b8c7aed~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a2c620_ba8e2131dace4416b287e88e5b8c7aed~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a2c620_612d5b4d0e1b499d86509c4a3e9371b2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a2c620_612d5b4d0e1b499d86509c4a3e9371b2~mv2.jpg)
Comments