The Cliffs of Gadara
The Miracle of the Swine (Mark 5:1–20) Towering above the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near the village of Neot Golan, are the dramatic cliffs traditionally linked to the Gadarene demoniac — a man tortured by spirits whom Jesus powerfully set free. “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” (Mark 5:8) “…the […]
Gamla
“A City on a Hill Cannot Be Hidden” (Matthew 5:14) Perched high above the deep gorge of the Daliot Stream in the southern Golan, Gamla was more than a stronghold — it was the Jewish heart of the region, a thriving city during the time of Jesus and a symbol of both faith and resistance. […]
Nimrod Castle – The Road to Damascus
A Fortress Above the Apostolic Call Rising dramatically above the lush Hula Valley, Nimrod Castle commands the ancient trade and military route that connected the Galilee with Damascus. While the castle itself dates to the Crusader and Mamluk periods, the road it watches over is far older — and holds one of the most powerful […]
Banias – Caesarea Philippi
“Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church” (Matthew 16:18) At the base of Mount Hermon lies Caesarea Philippi, known today as Banias — a place that in the time of Jesus was considered the very epicenter of pagan worship in the region. It was most famously associated with the Greek god Pan, the half-goat, […]
The Land of Refaim – Megalithic Building in the Golan
In the second chapter of the Biblical book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), there is mention of giants and Refaim. The Refaim were apparently also giants who lived in Eastern Transjordan. In Chapter 3, Og the King of Bashan is mentioned; it says that his bed was 4.5 meters long, and 2 meters wide. The stories of […]
The Golan – Volcano Land
The Golan is considered a dormant volcanic area, which means that in the past it was actively volcanic, but today there is no volcanic activity. Volcanic activity in the Golan began 4.5-5 million years ago, when lava flows emerged from cracks in the earth and began flowing throughout the Golan, the Lower Galilee, and parts […]
Ancient Synagogues in the Golan
Today, more than 30 ancient synagogues have been discovered in the Golan. Synagogues originated in Babylonia or in the Land of Israel during the Second Temple Period (apparently during Hasmonean Rule). Initially, synagogues were community centers, mainly for the reading and studying of the Torah, but also for other community gatherings. During the Second Temple […]
Christianity in the Golan
As we know, Jesus was from Nazareth in the Galilee, but most of his activity took place in the area of Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). Jesus lived in the house of Peter, also known as Shimon bar Yonah, in Kfar Nahum; in the New Testament, this site was known as the City of […]
