| Wadi Qelt Synagogue | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Status | Ruins |
| Location | |
| Location | Tulul Abu al-'Alayiq in Wadi Qelt, site of the Hasmonean royal winter palaces, outside Jericho, West Bank |
| Country | State of Palestine |
  Location of the former ancient synagogue in the West Bank | |
| Geographic coordinates | 31°50′40″N 35°24′51″E / 31.844316°N 35.414257°E |
| Architecture | |
| Date established | Hasmonean-period |
| Wadi Qelt Synagogue | |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Ehud Netzer |
| Condition | Ruin; entire site under constant degradation since excavation |
The Wadi Qelt Synagogue is claimed to be a former ancient Jewish synagogue and archeological site, located in Wadi Qelt, outside Jericho, in the West Bank, in the State of Palestine. The site is part of the royal winter palace complex built by the Hasmoneans in the warm desert oasis of Jericho, west of the town.
According to Ehud Netzer, the excavator and archaeologist of the ruins,[1] the former building was identified as a Hasmonean-period synagogue; however, the claim of the ruins being a synagogue have been disputed.[2][3] The ruins date from between 70 and 50 BCE, and if the former building did serve as a synagogue, it would be one of the oldest synagogues known.[4][1][5]
- ^ a b Harrington, Spencer P. M. (July 1998). "Israel's Oldest Synagogue". Archaeology. 51 (4).
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Staceywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Jappwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Oldest Synagogue Found in Israel". Associated Press. March 29, 1998. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
- ^ Netzer, Ehud (1999). "A Synagogue from the Hasmonean Period Recently Exposed in the Western Plain of Jericho". Israel Exploration Journal (49): 203–21.