Obj. ID: 500
  Ancient Art Gush Halav Synagogue, Eretz Israel, 3rd-4th century CE
The synagogue consists of a rectangular north-south hall, an attached corridor on the west, two storage rooms on the east, and a space on the north used according to Meyers as a gallery for extra seating. The main entrance is located in the southern facade, facing Jerusalem. A small outer stairway led to a second entrance in the northwestern corner. The hall is divided by two rows of four columns, with Ionic capitals into a nave and two aisles. The bema located in the southwest corner. Benches were attached to the western wall. The bench along the north wall is actually a step to the gallery platform.
sub-set tree: 
Gush Halav is about 8 km northwest of Safed, in the Galilee. It was mentioned in the Mishnah as a fortified city from the time of Joshua. Its wall was rebuilt when Josephus, who fortified many cities and villages in Galilee (war II, 575, 590; life 185), the city surrendered without a fight in 67 CE. (war IV, 92-120). Jhoan of Gischala comes from the city. According to Jerom Gischala was the home of Paul's parents. In the Talmud, Gusu Halav is mentioned as a producer of fine olive oil (war II,591-592; life, 74-75; Tosefta men.9:5; B.T, men 85b).
Renan A., Wilson C., Guerin V. visited the site in the nineteenth century.
Kohl H. and Watzinger C. surveyed the site (1906).
Excavations were carried out at the site under the auspices of the American Schools of Oriental Research under the direction of E.M. Meyers.
In the synagogue, there were four phases, dated according to numismatic and ceramics materials, and considering the earthquake taking place in this area. The first phase is dated to 250-306 CE. The second phase is dated to 306-363 CE. The third phase was built again after the great earthquake and is dated to 363-460. The fourth phase is dated to 460-551.
The first building was the most ambitious. The second building witnessed no major modification, a small bema replaced the second larger one on the south-western corner of the facade wall. The fourth phase attested through the floor.
Meyers E.M.- in E.O.E: 547-550.