The Gaza Synagogue Recaptured In The War

The media recently reported that for the first time in decades, Israel Defense Force soldiers prayed in the ancient synagogue in Gaza. After the Six-Day War in 1967, an archaeological excavation was undertaken at the site on behalf of the Department of Antiquities and Museums under the direction of Asher Ovadia in cooperation with the Israeli Military Governorate in Gaza.

The archaeological excavation was carried out to uncover the remains and associated finds of the 6th–7th century CE synagogue and to conserve it. The archaeologists considered that the synagogue served as a place of prayer for the Jewish community in Gaza until the seventh century CE, and that it was destroyed in the Early Islamic period. A mosaic floor with complex geometric patterns, decorative marble screens, and inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic were discovered at the site. The mosaic depicts King David, dressed in imperial robes and bearing a crown and plucking on a multi-chorded harp. He is surrounded by a lion cub, a giraffe, and a snake who listen to the harp-playing. The name “David” appears in Hebrew letters above the figure.

In addition, a mosaic floor was found with vine decorations surrounding medallions in which various animals were depicted: a lion cub suckling from a lioness, giraffe, peacocks, tiger, zebra, a bear, and more.

An area to the north was paved with mosaics decorated with geometric patterns, and animal and plant motifs, exhibiting a Greek dedication inscription: “(We) Menachem and Yeshua the sons of the late Yesai, timber merchants, in admiration for this holiest site, donated this mosaic in the month of Luos (year) 569” 508/9 CE).

Four marble screens found in the eastern part of the building, had a frame painted red with gold plate and were engraved with fragmentary Greek inscriptions. Pottery lamps dating to the late Byzantine and Early Islamic periods were also discovered in the synagogue.

The synagogue and its rich finds provide a glimpse into the cultural and religious world of the Jews in Gaza during the Byzantine period, constituting an important testimony to our history in the region.

Photographs from Qadmoniot Journal of Antiquities in the Land of Israel and Biblical Lands 1 (1968):124–127.