“The discovery of the ‘new’ synagogue at Migdal, with its many findings such as clay lamps, glass bowls formed from molds, coins, and stone vessels used for purification rites, show the Migdal Jews’ ties to Jerusalem and the Temple,” said Avshalom-Gorani.

The main space of the second synagogue was covered in white and colored plaster, and a large stone bench, also plastered, was placed near the wall. The ceiling, which was apparently made of wood, was supported by six pillars standing on stone bases, two of which are still intact. In a small room on the southern side, archeologists found a plaster-covered stone shelf, indicating that it might have served as a storage space for Torah scrolls.

Two millennia ago, Migdal, located on the northwestern edge of the Sea of Galilee, was a large Jewish town. It is mentioned in Christian texts as the birthplace of Mary Magdalene, whose last name derives from the name of the town.

The Israel Antiquities Authority excavated the eastern side of Migdal more than a decade ago. The dig revealed a synagogue that dated back to the time of the Second Temple. In the middle of that synagogue, archeologists discovered a unique stone that bore a relief image of a seven-branched menorah, which researchers believed was a depiction of the Temple menorah. The stone is currently part of an IAA exhibit at the Yigal Allon Center.