Khirbet Kanaf is a beautiful site that overlooks the sea of Galilee from the southern Golan Heights, above the area of the north of the lake. In this site there are ruins of an ancient 3rd C synagogue, the remnants of an Arab village (Mazrat Kanaf) , and a magnificent panorama of the Bethesda valley and the sea of Galilee.

 

The village started in the middle Bronze (Caananite) period and reached its peak at the Roman and Byzantine times. Although it is not referred in the New Testament, it is probable that Jesus visited the site, since it one of the closest villages to Bethesda and Capernaum and the center of activity of Jesus for 3 years (~27-30AD).

The synagogue is typical of the 3rd C Golan synagogues. Some of its stones are located on the site, others were relocated to the museum. The synagogue was probably reused in the Byzantine period as a church.