Beit Alfa — Attraction in Gilboa Regional Council

This charming Synagogue is one of my "bonus" stops when traveling with guests. To start, its an ancient synagogue from the 5th century. So far, "no big deal". However, they way the site is presented, is unusual. The Nature Reserve Authority is the one that should get the credit for the presentation, and moreover, for maintaining the site. Obviously, Sukenik, the archeologist "signed" on the findings - should be credited for the professional discovery, but I'm concentrating on the visiting experience. Most of the site consists the Mosaic Floor of the Synagogue. It is in a covered building and displayed with special sound and light effects telling the story how and why the Mosaic Floor was made. The display "takes you" back in time in easy understandable language. Some of the voices are in English, and some in Hebrew with English subtitles. A true enjoyable visit when you're in the Bet...

Contained at this site are the remains of a Byzantinian synagogue. Within the synagogue is an immaculately preserved mosaic; i.e this mosaic appears to us in all its shining mediocrity that the original artists painstakingly laid. This mosaic is a monument to the frustrations of prolonged projects that lack necessary vision or talent in the first place, but nonetheless evoke the pathos of pity solely because of the intensive labor from which they were brought to fruition. In the spirit of candidness, a four-year-old could have drawn these images, but a four-year-old would not likely spend months laying fragments of colored stone to make these images.

To the artist’s credit, his work has survived throughout the ages when so many countless other pieces succumbed to the ravages of time. This mosaic has brought him all the fame, or infamy, he so...

The mosaic floor is in astonishingly good shape. The artistic elements are quirky, but interesting history, assisted by a short film well coordinated with synchronized lighting of varying parts of the floor. The film offers an explanation for the non-standard Byzantine elements in the floor that reflects some supposition of real-world circumstances.

But even if the mosaic were not your focus, it's worth having lunch at the adjacent restaurant. There is an unpretentious charm to this former kibbutz bakery space, but the menu is surprisingly intriguing, and it doesn't disappoint. Our group ordered a variety of fish dishes and they all were wonderfully prepared, some traditional, some more ambitious, but all delicious. The salad with Halloumi cheese had a sweet crisp citrus dressing that I will remember fondly whenever I...