Early 6th Century

The Beth Alpha Synagogue Located near the Jezreel Valley

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An Aramaic mosaic inscription just inside the main entrance to the prayer hall of the Beit Alpha synagogue reveals that the floor was laid during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (518-527 CE). A Greek inscription, also situated at the entrance, reads: "May the craftsmen who carried out this work, Marianos and his son Hanina, be held in remembrance."

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The synagogue, located in the Beit She’an Valley, was once a two-story building complete with a bimah and a Torah ark oriented toward Jerusalem, as was, and still is, the custom today. The colorful mosaic in the main hall is divided into three panels, depicting the Ark of the Covenant, the zodiac, and the Akeida (the binding of Isaac).

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Barbara Ash

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Overview

The Beth Alpha Synagogue dedication indicates that it was likely built during the reign of Justinian I (518-27 CE), and the archaeological record shows that it was once a two-story building complete with a bimah and a Torah ark oriented toward Jerusalem, as was (and still is) custom.

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