Necropolis of Bet She’arim: A Landmark of Jewish Renewal

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The Necropolis of Bet She’arim: A Testament to Ancient Judaism and Jewish Renewal

The Necropolis of Bet She’arim, located approximately 20 kilometers east of Haifa in Israel, stands as a significant landmark not only in Jewish history but also in the broader context of world heritage. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, this extensive rock-cut necropolis offers a unique insight into the religious, cultural, and artistic aspects of ancient Judaism during the period following the second Jewish revolt against Roman rule (132–135 AD).

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Consisting of a series of catacombs, the necropolis developed from the 2^nd century AD as the primary Jewish burial place outside Jerusalem following the failure of the second Jewish revolt against Roman rule. Located southeast of the city of Haifa, these catacombs are a treasury of artworks and inscriptions in Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew and Palmyrene. Bet She’arim bears unique testimony to ancient Judaism under the leadership of Rabbi Judah the Patriarch, who is credited with Jewish renewal after 135 AD.

Encyclopedia Record: Beit She'arim necropolis

Beit She'arim Necropolis is an extensive rock-cut necropolis located near the ancient Jewish town of Beit She'arim, 20 km east of Haifa in the southern foothills of the Lower Galilee. Part of Beit She'arim National Park, the site includes the necropolis and remains of the town. Used from the first to fourth centuries CE, its peak occurred in the late second century when the Sanhedrin, led by Judah ha-Nasi, relocated to Beit She'arim, and his family was interred there. In 2015, the necropolis was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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