Bar'am

Bar'am (Hebrew ברעם ), also Baram or Biram, is a place in the North District of Israel directly to the Lebanese border.

History

The Jewish settlement was founded in the first century AD. According to legend, Queen Esther was buried here. Bar'am was a prosperous village, demonstrating the simultaneous existence of two synagogues.

After the Arab conquest of the original Jewish population was expelled. In the 18th century Melkite Arabs moved into the village. There have been no right of return for displaced Jewish population.

In the Israeli War of Independence, the 1,000 Melkite Arab residents were expelled from Bar'am or relocated to the further south Gisch. A return of the Melkite Arab population was first confirmed positive by the Israeli high court, in a judgment of 1951, but ignored by the army. To prevent a clandestine return of the Arab inhabitants, the village was blown up in 1953 and instead founded the Jewish kibbutz Bar'am. Since 1967, former residents of Bar'am may be buried in the local cemetery again.

The government of Ariel Sharon refused in July 2005 from a return of the Melkite Arab population. This was justified by security and the close proximity to the Lebanese border. In addition, to establish a legal precedent for the still designated as refugees Arabs in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and their descendants, who inherit their status as refugees, are avoided.

Today Bar'am is also a National Park. The younger Melkite Arab history is described on the official information boards the ancient Jewish history of the place, but less described.

Building

The ancient Jewish settlement has one of the best preserved synagogues. The built of basalt stone synagogue hall with six columns and roofed atrium is not reconstructed, so is still in its original state and is referred to as the most beautiful historic synagogue in Israel. Under the right window in the façade leads into an Aramaic inscription with the name of the builder, Banahu Elazar bar Yodan. Accordingly, they emerged at the end of the first century AD. Other historical evidence of the synagogue are not present, one of the first written records date from the year 1522.

The small synagogue is not received, their remains were discovered during the excavations. A is discovered, the lintel with the inscription contains a benediction ( "Peace in this place and in all of Israel " ) and the name of the builder, Joseph HaLevi ben Levi. The lintel is now in the Louvre in Paris.

After the demolition of the village in 1953 building ruins are only preserved. The Melkite Church was later prepared again and is now the only intact building at the site.

Sons and daughters

  • Elias Chacour
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