Shalom Al Israel synagogue
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The Shalom Al Israel synagogue (Hebrew: שלום על ישראל), is Jericho's ancient synagogue.
The synagogue, dating from the Byzantine period, was revealed in excavations taken in 1936 by Dr. Baramki of the Antiquities Authority under the British Mandate.
The synagogue contained a big mosaic on the floor with drawings of the Ark of the Covenant, the Menorah, a Shofar, a Lulav and the inscription "Shalom al Yisrael" (Peace on Israel).
After the Six Day War, Israelis began visiting the site regularly for prayers.
In later years, a yeshiva was developed in the place.
[edit] Recent times
According to the Oslo Accords, Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to keep free access to the site and to defend it properly. [1]
In the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Arabs entered the site and desecrated the building, the furniture and burned the whole second floor.
The Torah scroll stored at the synagogue was rescued from the fire and resides at the yishuv Mevo'ot Yericho.
In 2005 a group of Israelis were able to visit the synagogue after IDF soldiers restored the site.
Nearby in Naaran, there is another synagogue from the 4th century that also has a mosaic floor.
