Menorah and Burned Torah Scroll from Ein Gedi Synagogue

The Ein Gedi synagogue, discovered by farmers from the Kibbutz in the mid-1960s, dates back to the third century CE and underwent a significant renovation in the late fifth to early sixth century, as evident from the mosaic floor and its motifs.

Among the many archaeological finds discovered was a burned scroll from the Book of Leviticus and a bronze seven-branched menorah. The menorah is the only one of its kind, with its branches made of small spheres that imitate the “calyxes and petals” of the Temple menorah.

The synagogue was destroyed by fire during the early sixth century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian as part of his persecution campaign against Jews in his empire.

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