Hamat Tiberias
By Ryan Jones
Hamat Tiberias was originally built as a hot bath resort by the Romans, and was therefore a gentile city, off limits to Jews. Ironically, Tiberias, and Hamat Tiberias, later became the seat of the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious council) and the hot baths healing properties were recognized by the Jewish leadership as an acceptable cure for a variety of ailments.
The remains of the synagogue at Hamat Tiberias date to the time of the Sanhedrin's use of the city, and is the home of the oldest discovered mosaic in Israel.
The hot baths of Tiberias are still in use today, though in a new, more modern facility, and are a popular spot for both foreign and Israeli visitors.
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