Umm el-Umdan

Other Name: Umm el-‘Umdan

Religion: Jewish

Archaeological Evidences:

Period: Early Roman

Excavation: Excavated

Excavators: Alexander Onn and Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah (2000-2002)

Main Finds: Benches and pillars

Site Condition: Open to the public

Geographic Details

Geographical Region: Judea

שדרות החשמונאים, מודיעין מכבים רעות, ישראל

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Selected Bibliography:

Selected Bibliography

Onn, A. and Weksler-Bdolah, S. "A Synagogue of the Second Temple Period at Khirbat Umm el-ʿUmdan" in Ancient Synagogues Revealed: 1981-2022. ed. L. I. Levine, Z. Weiss, U. Leibner, Jerusalem, Israel Exploration Society, 2023: 220-227.
Onn, A. and Weksler-Bdolah, S. "A Synagogue of the Second Temple Period at Hurvat Umm El-'Umdan" in And Let Them Make Me A Sanctuary. Synagogues from Ancient Times to the Present Day. ed. Y. Eshel; Y. E. Netzer; D. Amit and D. Cassuto, Ariel, 2014: 25-29.
Weksler-Bdolah, S. "Khirbat Umm el-‘Umdan - Final Report" Hadashot Arkheologiyot 126, 2014.
On, A. and Weksler-Bdolah, S. "Khirbet Umm el-Umdan - A Jewish Village with a Synagogue from the Second Temple Period at Modiin" Qadmoniot: A Journal for the Antiquities of Eretz-Israel and Bible Lands 130, 2005: 107-116, (Hebrew).
Onn, A. and Weksler-Bdolah, S. "Khirbet Umm el-'Umdan" The New Encyclopedia of Archeological Excavations in the Holy Land. 2008: 2061-2063.

Bibliographic citation of this page

Ben David, C. Osband, M. Aviam, M. Site: ‘Synagogues.Kinneret.ac.il’, The Bornblum Eretz Israel Website for the Study of Ancient Synagogues, accessed on 24 June 2026, https://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/umm-el-umdan/

Photos:

Photos

General view - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 108. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

General View of the Site | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 108. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 112. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

The South-West Corner of the Synagogue's Benches | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 112. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

"Special Seat" at the Northern Bench | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 112. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 113. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

The Herodian Period's Synagogue | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 113. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

Plans and Drawings:

Plans

plan of the site, Onn and Weksler-Bdolah 2008: 2062, courtesy of Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, Israeli Anitquities Authority and the Israel Exploration Society

Hasmonean period synagogue, Onn and Weksler-Bdolah 2008: 2062, courtesy of Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, Israeli Anitquities Authority and the Israel Exploration Society

Herodian period synagogue, Onn and Weksler-Bdolah 2008: 2063, courtesy of Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, Israeli Anitquities Authority and the Israel Exploration Society

On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 110. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Plan of the Hasmonean Period Hall. | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 110. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

Plan- Herodian Period. | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 112. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 115. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Plan of the Synagogue's Last Pase | On and Weksler-Bdolah 2005: 115. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

Links:

Links

Umm el-Umdan - Hadashot Arkheologiyot Excavations and Surveys in Israel - General article

Umm el-Umdan - The Archaeological Survey of Israel