Beit She'arim
Israel · Northern District · 130 m
Description
Beit She’arim (בית שערים) lies on a ridge in Lower Galilee and is one of the most important Jewish necropolises of the Roman period. After Jerusalem became inaccessible to Jews, the Sanhedrin moved here, and the hillside developed into a favored burial ground for Jewish families from across the Roman world. Around two dozen catacombs were carved into the soft limestone, some containing up to a hundred stone sarcophagi decorated with menorahs, lions, and Torah shrines. Inscriptions in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Palmyrene offer a rare glimpse into Jewish life in the centuries following the destruction of the Temple.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Travel season
Best time to visit: March – April or October – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Necropolis of Beit Shearim (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Cave of the Coffins and its rows of sarcophagi
- Menorah reliefs and the Greek and Hebrew inscriptions
- Burial hall of Rabbi Judah the Prince
- Ancient synagogue and the olive press of the town
- Statue of Alexander Zaid on the ridge
- Oak forest picnic grounds around the park
- Visitor film and the model of the necropolis
- Zippori national park and its Nile mosaic(Day trip)
- Mount Carmel ridge walks above the valley(Day trip)
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Kfar Yehoshua