Aramaic Inscription from Ḥammat Tiberias, Lower Galilee
May peace be upon anyone who has offered charity in this holy place and anyone who will offer charity may he be blessed. Amen, Amen, Selah, and for myself Amen.
Translated by Moshe Dothan.
Credits
Aramaic Inscription from Ḥammat Tiberias, Lower Galilee, trans. Moshe Dothan, in Moshe Dothan, Hammath Tiberias, vol. 1: Early Synagogues and the Hellenistic and Roman Remains, Ancient Synagogues Studies (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1983), p. 53. Used with permission of the publisher.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
You may also like
Aramaic Inscription from Na‘aran, Jordan Valley
Remembered for good Ḥalifu, daughter of Rabbi Safrah, who supported this holy place. Amen.
Greek Inscription from Gaza
Menaḥem and Yeshua, sons of the late Isai/Issi, wood merchants, as a sign of thanks for the most holy place, this mosaic [we] have donated in the month of Loos [July–August], 569 [of the era of Gaza =…
The Synagogue as a Substitute for the Temple
Midrash on Deuteronomy from the Cairo Geniza
As long as the Temple existed, the daily offerings and sacrifices would atone for the sins of Israel. Nowadays, the synagogues of Israel replace the Temple, and as long as Israel prays in them, they…
Torah Shrine Floor Mosaic, Beth Shean
This floor mosaic from a synagogue in Beth Shean depicts menorahs to either side of a Torah shrine, each flanked by a shofar and incense shovel. This panel of the mosaic was likely located in front of…
Synagogue Construction
t. Megillah 3:22–23
22. We make entrances to synagogues only to the east, for we find that the sanctuary opened to the east, as it is stated: And those who were to pitch before the Tabernacle eastward, before the Tent of…
Synagogue Adornment
Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Baḥodesh 10
You Shall Not Make for Yourselves (Exodus 20:20). Lest you say: Since the Torah has given permission to make the cherubim in the Temple, I am also going to make them in the synagogues and in the…
Engage with this Source
Related Guide
Early Inscriptions Referring to the Synagogue as “Holy Place"
3rd–7th Centuries
You may also like
Aramaic Inscription from Na‘aran, Jordan Valley
Remembered for good Ḥalifu, daughter of Rabbi Safrah, who supported this holy place. Amen.
Greek Inscription from Gaza
Menaḥem and Yeshua, sons of the late Isai/Issi, wood merchants, as a sign of thanks for the most holy place, this mosaic [we] have donated in the month of Loos [July–August], 569 [of the era of Gaza =…
The Synagogue as a Substitute for the Temple
Midrash on Deuteronomy from the Cairo Geniza
As long as the Temple existed, the daily offerings and sacrifices would atone for the sins of Israel. Nowadays, the synagogues of Israel replace the Temple, and as long as Israel prays in them, they…
Torah Shrine Floor Mosaic, Beth Shean
This floor mosaic from a synagogue in Beth Shean depicts menorahs to either side of a Torah shrine, each flanked by a shofar and incense shovel. This panel of the mosaic was likely located in front of…
Synagogue Construction
t. Megillah 3:22–23
22. We make entrances to synagogues only to the east, for we find that the sanctuary opened to the east, as it is stated: And those who were to pitch before the Tabernacle eastward, before the Tent of…
Synagogue Adornment
Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Baḥodesh 10
You Shall Not Make for Yourselves (Exodus 20:20). Lest you say: Since the Torah has given permission to make the cherubim in the Temple, I am also going to make them in the synagogues and in the…