Bet Shearim Attractions
The archeological site of Bet Shearim, 20km/12.5mi southeast of Haifa, is reached by taking a side road which goes off the Haifa-Nazareth road on the right soon after Qiryat Tivon. Bet Shearim is an important site in the Jewish rabbinical tradition, particularly notable for the impressive catacombs excavated by B. Mazar in 1936 and later by N. Avigad.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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They lie in a beautiful setting, within an area of 2 hectares/5 acres which has been declared a National Park.
History
Bet Shearim acquired particular importance in 135, when, after the failure of the Bar Kochba rising, Rabbi Judah Hanassi moved his seminary here from Yavne, making Bet Shearim the spiritual center of Jewry. The Sanhedrin, as leader of which Rabbi Judah bore the title of Hanassi ("Prince"), also met here for a time. Many members of the Sanhedrin were buried in Bet Shean, and its fame led other pious Jews to have themselves buried here.
History
Bet Shearim acquired particular importance in 135, when, after the failure of the Bar Kochba rising, Rabbi Judah Hanassi moved his seminary here from Yavne, making Bet Shearim the spiritual center of Jewry. The Sanhedrin, as leader of which Rabbi Judah bore the title of Hanassi ("Prince"), also met here for a time. Many members of the Sanhedrin were buried in Bet Shean, and its fame led other pious Jews to have themselves buried here.
Related Attractions
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Necropolis
The Necropolis of Bet Shearim consists of catacombs carved from the rock hillside. The tombs had been raided when discovered and no human remains or treasures were ever found.
Catacomb 14
Catacomb 14 at the archeological site of Bet Shearim, which also has a triple-arched facade, contains a number of informative inscriptions in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, for example on the sarcophagi of Simon and Gamaliel, presumably sons of Rabbi Judah Hanassi, who was himself buried in Bet Shearim.
Museum
In one of the main chambers in Catacomb 20 at the archeological site of Bet Shearim is a museum displaying finds from the site, including a modern-looking relief of a menorah.
Statue of Alexander Zaid
On the highest point of the site at Bet Shearim, can be seen a statue of Alexander Zaid, who discovered the necropolis in 1936.
Synagogue
Before the access road reaches the entrance to the National Park in Bet Shearim the remains of a large three-aisled synagogue of the second or third century, its facade oriented towards Jerusalem, can be seen on the left. Farther along is an oil-press, with two rooms.
