Beth She'arim
By Ryan Jones
Bet She'arim was a flourishing, wealthy Jewish town from the 2nd-4th centuries AD. At one point the town became the seat of the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious council), after Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi moved his study center there. The Sanhedrin later moved, with Rabbi Yehudah, to Tzippori.
Bet She'arim's former wealth is evident by the vast, ornately decorated necropolis discovered beneath the town. Numerous courtyards, corridors and stairways lead to the many underground burial chambers, all beautifully decorated in the artistic styles of the time.
A climb to the top of the hill, where the remains of an ancient basilica still stand, will give you a beautiful panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley and Carmel Mountain Range.
© Israel My Beloved
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