| Jericho synagogue | |
|---|---|
 The "Peace on Israel" floor mosaic of the Jericho synagogue | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Jericho,West Bank |
| Country | Palestine |
  Location of the former ancient synagogue in theWest Bank | |
| Coordinates | 31°52′27″N35°26′57″E / 31.874167°N 35.449167°E /31.874167; 35.449167 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Byzantine architecture |
| Established | 6th century |
| Jericho synagogue | |
 | |
 Interactive map of Jericho synagogue | |
| Alternative name | Shalom Al Israel Synagogue |
| History | |
| Periods | Byzantine /Talmudic |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1936 |
| Archaeologists | Dimitri Baramki |
| Condition | Preserved |
| Ownership | Husni Shahwan |
| Public access | Restricted |
TheJericho synagogue is aJewishsynagogue inJericho,West Bank,Palestine. The synagogue was built in theByzantine Empire-era and is believed to date from the late 6th or early 7th centuryCE and was discovered in 1936. All that remains from the ancient prayer house is itsmosaic floor, which contains anAramaic inscription presenting thanks to the synagogue donors, and a well-preserved central medallion with the inscription "Shalom al Israel", meaning "Peace [up]on Israel". This led to the site also being known asShalom Al Israel Synagogue.
The former ancient synagogue was restored as a place of Jewish worship in the early part of the twenty-first century.[1]
The synagogue, dating from theByzantine period, was revealed in excavations conducted in 1936 byDimitri Baramki of theDepartment of Antiquities under theBritish Mandate.[2][3]
The well-off Arab Jerusalemite, Husni Shahwan, who owned the land, built a house on top of the mosaic, careful to preserve it.[4]
The mosaic floor incorporates Jewish symbols such as theArk of the Covenant, theTemple Menorah, ashofar and alulav. There is also a Hebrew inscription, "Peace [up]on Israel" (שלום על ישראל), after which the mosaic was named.[5] The phrase "Peace on Israel" has been widely used on Jewish and sometimes Samaritan synagogue floors from the Byzantine and, in one known case, Early Muslim period.[6][7][8][9]
After the 1967Six-Day War, the site came under Israeli military control and remained under the responsibility of the owners, the Shahwan family.[4] Tourists began visiting the site, as did religious Jews who came regularly for prayers.[citation needed] In the months after the war,Moshe Dayan thanked Mohammed, the son of Husni Shahwan, for the way the family had managed to protect the synagogue remains, which counted among the better preserved in the country.[4] Mohammed Shahwan, who had just lost the bank he had owned due to the war, placed a guard over the mosaic floor and started charging a modest admission fee from visitors for the years until[4][2] 1987, when theFirst Intifada broke out and the Israeli authorities confiscated the mosaic, the house and a small part of the farm around it.[4] They offered compensation to the Shahwan family, but that was rejected.[citation needed]
After the 1995Oslo Accords, control of the site was given to thePalestinian Authority (PA). It was agreed that free access to the site would continue and it would be adequately protected.[10] The PA has deployed a special security force to protect it.[citation needed]
At the beginning of theSecond Intifada the site became a source of conflict. On the night of 12 October 2000, vandals entered and desecrated the building, damaging the house on top of the ancient mosaic.[11] The Torah scroll stored at the synagogue was rescued from the fire which had been started and was taken toMevo'ot Yericho.
In 2005, the synagogue was open to visits, including byIsraeli Jews, after the synagogue was restored by the Municipality of Jericho. Such visits, coordinated between the local Palestinian authorities and theIsrael Defense Forces, were initially allowed once every month, in order to conduct prayer services.
Since July 2007, Jewish prayer services in the Jericho synagogue have been allowed once every week.[1]
 Ancient synagogues (Second Temple and Talmudic periods) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land of Israel |
|  | ||||||||
| Asia Minor and Syria | ||||||||||
| Greece and the Balkans | ||||||||||
| Italy, Iberia and North Africa | ||||||||||
| Active |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former |
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Religious sites inPalestine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Governorate |  | |
| Hebron Governorate | ||
| Jenin Governorate | ||
| Jericho Governorate | ||
| Jerusalem Governorate | ||
| Nablus Governorate | ||
| Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate | ||
| Salfit Governorate | ||
| Tulkarm Governorate | ||
| Qalqiliya Governorate | ||
| Gaza Governorate | ||
† Access to the site is controlled by Israel. | ||
