The ancient village on Mt. Meiron is the hometown of the second-century C.E. rabbi, Simeon bar Yochai, one of the most famous Jewish sages, whose commentaries are part of the Talmud. Meiron appears in the list of Galilean cities to which the 24 priestly “courses,” or family divisions assigned Temple duties by lot, fled from Jerusalem at its destruction in 70 C.E. Meiron was investigated and partially excavated by Heinrich Kohl and Carl Watzinger for the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft in 1905. The site was excavated beginning in 1971 on behalf of the American Schools of Oriental Research under the direction of Eric Meyers. The synagogue facade, shown here, has been standing since the founding of the building in the mid-third century C.E. The photo shows the central portal of the three entries into the worship area or prayer hall.