Kfar Bar'am
Encyclopedia
Kfar Baram also Kafr Bir'im or Kafar Berem, is the site of an ancient Jewish village in Northern Israel
, 3 kilometers from the Lebanese border. An ancient Hebrew inscription from one of the village synagogues reads: "Peace be upon the place, and on all the places of Israel."
Bar'am was established in ancient times as a Jewish village. At an unknown point following the Arab conquest of Palestine in the seventh century, but before the thirteenth century, Jews abandoned the village. By the nineteenth century the village was entirely Christian. A church on the site , the Maronite church, is maintained and is always open.
Kafr Bar'am was badly damaged in the Galilee earthquake of 1837
. The local church and a row of columns and other standing remains of the ancient synagogue were thrown to the ground. In the 19th century the village had a population of 160 males, all Maronites and Melkite
s.
The town was captured October 31, 1948 by the Israel Defense Forces
during operation Hiram
. The villagers were made to leave. In 1949, with cross-border infiltration a frequent occurrence, the government of the new State of Israel decided not to allow Arab villagers to return to the border zone, which included Bir'im, for security reasons.
Kibbutz Bar'am
was founded nearby on 16 June 1949 to guard and hold the border with Lebanon by demobilized
Palmach
soldiers.
According to tradition the prophet Obadiah and Queen Esther, wife of King Xerxes
, were buried at Kfar Bar'am. On Purim
, the Megillat Esther (Scroll of Esther) was read at her grave. However, the city of Hamadan
(ancient Ecbatana
) is where the tomb of Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordechai have been presented for countless centuries.
Kfar Bar'am can be reached by the road running north from Meron to Sassa (9 km/6 mi).
ic period. In 1522, Rabbi Moses Basula wrote that the synagogue belonged to Simeon bar Yochai, who survived the Second Jewish War in 132-135 CE (the Bar-Kochba revolt). But archeologists have concluded that the building was built at least a century later. The Israeli archaeologist Lipa Sukenik (1889-1953), who was instrumental in establishing the Department of Archaeology at the Hebrew University, excavated a relief in one of the synagogues in 1928, and dated the Bar’am synagogue to the third century CE.
The synagogue is made of basalt stone, standard for most buildings in the area. The six-column portico is unusual. The front entrance of the synagogue has three doorways that face Jerusalem. In front of the entrance are some of the (originally eight) columns with Attic bases which supported a porch. There is an inscription under the right window on the facade, which reads: "Banahu Elazar bar Yodan", which means "Elazar bar Yodan built it". Elazar bar Yodan is a Jewish Aramaic name. The interior of the synagogue was divided by rows of columns into three aisles and an ambulatory.
An unusual feature in an ancient synagogue is the presence of three-dimensional sculpture, a pair of stone lions. A similar pair of three-dimensional lions was found at Chorazin
. A carved frieze features a winged victory and images of animals and, possibly, human figures.
There was a second, smaller synagogue, but little of it was found. A lintel from this smaller synagogue is at the Louvre
. The Hebrew inscription on the lintel reads, "Peace be upon the place, and on all the places of Israel."
In 1901, publication of photos of the ancient synagogue led the Jewish Hospital of Philadelphia, (now the Albert Einstein Medical Center
,) to erect a synagogue, the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue
, inspired by Bar'am and other ancient Israeli synagogues. The hospital's synagogue replicated the round arch of the door of the standing ruin and the lintel from the smaller synagogue that is now in the Louvre.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, 3 kilometers from the Lebanese border. An ancient Hebrew inscription from one of the village synagogues reads: "Peace be upon the place, and on all the places of Israel."
Etymology
The name is often assumed to mean "Son of the People," incorporating the Aramaic word bar בר, meaning "son" and the Hebrew word am עם meaning "people". However, if like at Shfar'am, both elements are Hebrew, the name could derive from a literary Hebrew word בר indicating cleanliness, purity, pristineness and wholesomeness - "The wholesome people" or "wholesomeness of the people". In modern Hebrew, בר is most commonly used in phrases to indicate "wilderness" or "nature".History
Kafr Bar'am was badly damaged in the Galilee earthquake of 1837
Galilee earthquake of 1837
The Galilee earthquake of 1837, often called the Safed earthquake, was a devastating earthquake that shook the Galilee on January 1, 1837.-Impact:...
. The local church and a row of columns and other standing remains of the ancient synagogue were thrown to the ground. In the 19th century the village had a population of 160 males, all Maronites and Melkite
Melkite
The term Melkite, also written Melchite, refers to various Byzantine Rite Christian churches and their members originating in the Middle East. The word comes from the Syriac word malkāyā , and the Arabic word Malakī...
s.
The town was captured October 31, 1948 by the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
during operation Hiram
Operation Hiram
Operation Hiram was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was led by General Moshe Carmel, and aimed at capturing the upper Galilee region from the Arab Liberation Army forces led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji and a Syrian battalion...
. The villagers were made to leave. In 1949, with cross-border infiltration a frequent occurrence, the government of the new State of Israel decided not to allow Arab villagers to return to the border zone, which included Bir'im, for security reasons.
Kibbutz Bar'am
Bar'am
Bar'am is a kibbutz located in northern Israel. Located approximately 300 meters from Israel's border with Lebanon near the ruins of the ancient Jewish village of Kfar Bar'am. Bar'am National Park is known for the remains of one of Israel's oldest synagogues...
was founded nearby on 16 June 1949 to guard and hold the border with Lebanon by demobilized
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
soldiers.
According to tradition the prophet Obadiah and Queen Esther, wife of King Xerxes
Xerxes I of Persia
Xerxes I of Persia , Ḫšayāršā, ), also known as Xerxes the Great, was the fifth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire.-Youth and rise to power:...
, were buried at Kfar Bar'am. On Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
, the Megillat Esther (Scroll of Esther) was read at her grave. However, the city of Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
(ancient Ecbatana
Ecbatana
Ecbatana is supposed to be the capital of Astyages , which was taken by the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great in the sixth year of Nabonidus...
) is where the tomb of Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordechai have been presented for countless centuries.
Kfar Bar'am can be reached by the road running north from Meron to Sassa (9 km/6 mi).
Synagogue
The synagogue is preserved up to the second story and has been restored. The architecture of the synagogue is similar to that of other synagogues in the Galilee built in the TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic period. In 1522, Rabbi Moses Basula wrote that the synagogue belonged to Simeon bar Yochai, who survived the Second Jewish War in 132-135 CE (the Bar-Kochba revolt). But archeologists have concluded that the building was built at least a century later. The Israeli archaeologist Lipa Sukenik (1889-1953), who was instrumental in establishing the Department of Archaeology at the Hebrew University, excavated a relief in one of the synagogues in 1928, and dated the Bar’am synagogue to the third century CE.
The synagogue is made of basalt stone, standard for most buildings in the area. The six-column portico is unusual. The front entrance of the synagogue has three doorways that face Jerusalem. In front of the entrance are some of the (originally eight) columns with Attic bases which supported a porch. There is an inscription under the right window on the facade, which reads: "Banahu Elazar bar Yodan", which means "Elazar bar Yodan built it". Elazar bar Yodan is a Jewish Aramaic name. The interior of the synagogue was divided by rows of columns into three aisles and an ambulatory.
An unusual feature in an ancient synagogue is the presence of three-dimensional sculpture, a pair of stone lions. A similar pair of three-dimensional lions was found at Chorazin
Chorazin
Chorazin was a village in northern Galilee, two and a half miles from Capernaum on a hill above the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.-Biblical references:...
. A carved frieze features a winged victory and images of animals and, possibly, human figures.
There was a second, smaller synagogue, but little of it was found. A lintel from this smaller synagogue is at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
. The Hebrew inscription on the lintel reads, "Peace be upon the place, and on all the places of Israel."
In 1901, publication of photos of the ancient synagogue led the Jewish Hospital of Philadelphia, (now the Albert Einstein Medical Center
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Albert Einstein Medical Center is a tertiary care teaching hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An important aspect of the medical center is that of educating graduating physicians. The medical center offers residency and fellowship training programs in many specialized areas...
,) to erect a synagogue, the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue
Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue
The Frank Memorial Synagogue is a synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, named after philanthropist Henry S. Frank.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983....
, inspired by Bar'am and other ancient Israeli synagogues. The hospital's synagogue replicated the round arch of the door of the standing ruin and the lintel from the smaller synagogue that is now in the Louvre.
External links
- Bar'am synagogue (Talmudic period)
- Ancient Synagogues in Bar'am and Capernaum article written by Jacqueline Schaalje, from Jewish Magazine, June, 2001 Edition
- Bar’am National Park, an ancient synagogue and a Maronite church
- Coexistence - Kafar Berem article written by Hanna F. Farah