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84-535: The largest city in the subdistrict is the Druze town of Majdal Shams , with a population of circa 11.5 thousand. The largest Israeli illegal settlement in the subdistrict is the town of Katzrin , with a population of c. 8 thousand. Most localities in the subdistrict are organized as part og the Golan Regional Council , with the exception of six towns which are run as separate local councils . These are Katzrin,

168-474: A Mediterranean climate ( Csa/Csb ), with an average annual precipitation of 817 millimetres (32.2 in). Summers are warm and dry and winters are chilly and wetter, with the possibility of snowfall . According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , Majdal Shams's population was 11,458 in 2022, the vast majority of them Druze. The population growth rate is 2.5%. The ratio between men and women

252-803: A laissez passer by the Israeli authorities. As Israel does not recognize their Syrian citizenship, they are defined in Israeli records as "residents of the Golan Heights." Residents of Majdal Shams are not drafted by the Israel Defense Forces , but as of 2024 there are individual cases of residents serving in the army. As permanent residents, Majdal Shams inhabitants are free to work and study in Israel and are entitled to state services such as HMO ( Kupat Holim ) health insurance. They are also free to move at will and live anywhere they choose in Israel. The town

336-426: A 19-week general strike in protest. Although Israeli troops blockaded the town and offered residents to accept citizen identification cards, the protesters succeeded in convincing the state to classify members of the community as non-citizens. Residents retained the right to apply for Israeli citizenship individually. Many of the Druze who had received I.D. cards denied having voluntarily applied for them, alleging that

420-566: A dessert featuring kadaif noodles, cheese, sugar syrup, and pistachios. Abu Salah is an influential family in Majdal Shams. This surname is also spelled as Abu Salach or Abu Saleh. [REDACTED] Media related to Majdal Shams at Wikimedia Commons Al-Majdal, Tiberias Magdala ( Aramaic : מגדלא , romanized:  Magdalā , lit.   'Tower'; Hebrew : מִגְדָּל , romanized :  Migdál ; Ancient Greek : Μαγδαλά , romanized :  Magdalá )

504-449: A few Muslim families resided there, and in 1821, the Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt noted that the village was in a rather poor condition. During his travels through Syria and Palestine in 1838, Edward Robinson described el-Mejdel, as he called it, "a miserable little Muslim village, looking much like a ruin, though exhibiting no marks of antiquity." He wrote: "The name Mejdel

588-433: A low, square, stone structure topped by a formerly whitewashed dome. The land in the vicinity is cultivated by Israelis." In 1991, Petersen visited the maqam of Muhammad al-Ajami, describing it as a small square building with a shallow dome supported by squinches . The entrance was on the north side, where there also was a small window. The shrine appeared to contain two tombs , one about 1 meter (3.3 ft) high, while

672-542: A place called Magdala. Matthew 15:39 of the King James Version reads, "And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala". However, some Greek manuscripts give the name of the place as "Magadan", and more recent translations (such as the Revised Version ) follow this ( Matthew 15:39 ). Although some commentators state confidently that the two refer to the same place, others dismiss

756-467: A rival on the lake by building Tiberias." -- Gustaf Dalman Magdala has been described as the "capital of a toparchy " and compared to Sepphoris and Tiberias in that it had "administrative apparatus and personnel" though not to the same extent. The remains of a Roman-period synagogue dated to 50 BCE- 100 CE were discovered in 2009. The walls of the 120-square-metre (1,300 sq ft) main hall were decorated with brightly colored frescoes and inside

840-521: A school and church in the town. The mission school operated until 1885, when it was closed by Turkish authorities. Majdal Shams also attracted foreign geologists such as William Libbey because of the town's proximity to an exposed strata of Jurassic period fossils. Fossils excavated at Majdal Shams were acquired by the American University of Beirut and Harvard University. Some travelers wrote vivid descriptions of Majdal Shams. Herbert Rix visited

924-494: A shrine for one Mohammad al-Ajami on the northern outskirts of the village. To the west of the village on the summit of the mountains, lay the remains of the Crusader fortress of Magdala (later known as Qal'at Na'la ("the fortress of Na'la"). On the lakeshore about 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) south of the village, was a perforated black stone mentioned by Arab travellers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Local belief held that

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1008-521: A total land area of 103 dunams . Of this, 24 dunams were used for growing citrus and bananas , and 41 dunums devoted to cereals . Another 17 dunams were irrigated or used for orchards, while 6 dunams were classified as built-up (urban) area. During the 1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine , after the Arab quarter of Tiberias was taken by Jewish forces and its inhabitants were evacuated,

1092-484: A village which I pass without stopping, having already visited it enough". Isabel Burton also mentions the shrine for Muhammad al-'Ajami in her private journals published in 1875: "First we came to Magdala (Mejdel) ... There is a tomb here of a Shaykh (El Ajami), the name implies a Persian Santon; there is a tomb seen on a mountain, said to be that of Dinah , Jacob 's daughter. Small boys were running in Nature's garb on

1176-477: Is 951 women for every 1,000 men. Most of the town's residents are Druze, but a few Christians remain of a much larger community that left the town in the 1940s and 1950s. The inhabitants of Majdal Shams are considered Syrian citizens by the Syrian authorities. Since 1981 they have also been considered permanent residents of Israel. While they are entitled to full Israeli citizenship , as of 2011 only 10 percent of

1260-628: Is a predominantly Druze town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights , located in the southern foothills of Mount Hermon . It is known as the informal "capital" of the region. Majdal Shams played a significant role in the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–1927 that was led by Druze leader Sultan Al-Atrash , who is commemorated by several monuments in the city. Beginning in the 1930s, Majdal Shams became involved in political developments in nearby Mandatory Palestine , and supported

1344-462: Is another major source of income. Tourists often visit the village to experience its unique cultural and gastronomic offerings. The scenic landscape, characterized by rows of apple and cherry trees interspersed with vegetable plots, provides a picturesque backdrop for agritourism . Visitors can explore the orchards, participate in fruit picking, and enjoy the local produce. The town is home to several non-governmental organizations, including Golan for

1428-554: Is characterized by black volcanic rock (i.e., basalt ). The name "Majdal Shams" originates from Aramaic , meaning: "tower of sun" in reference (possibly) to the town's elevation. Another hypothesis suggests that the town was originally called Majdal al-Sham (Majdal of Damascus ) to distinguish it from the towns of al-Majdal on the Mediterranean Coast and al-Majdal on the Sea of Galilee . According to one version, Majdal Shams

1512-674: Is obviously the same with the Hebrew Migdal and Greek Magdala; there is little reason to doubt that this place is the Magdala of the New Testament , chiefly known as the native town of Mary Magdalene. The ancient notices respecting its position are exceedingly indefinite; yet it seems to follow from the New Testament itself, that it lay on the west side of the lake. After the miraculous feeding of four thousand, which appears to have taken place in

1596-416: Is surrounded by apple and cherry orchards. Villagers sold their apples to Syria despite the closed border. However, the Syrian civil war has halted this trade, forcing local growers to sell their apples in Israel, where they struggle to compete with market prices. As a result, some farmers have diversified their crops, planting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, okra, and black-eyed peas. Local tourism

1680-494: Is to be seen there", but that the site was in ruins. The small Muslim Arab village of Al-Majdal was located to the south of the land acquired by the Franciscans. Little is known about the village in the medieval or early Ottoman period , presumably because it was either small or uninhabited. Richard Pococke visited "Magdol" around 1740, where he noted "the considerable remains of an indifferent castle", which in his opinion

1764-581: The 1948 Arab–Israeli War , the Arab village of al-Majdal ( Arabic : المجدل ) stood at the site of ancient Magdala. The Israeli municipality of Migdal now extends into the area. Archaeological excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) conducted in 2006 found that the settlement began during the Hellenistic period (between the second and first centuries BCE) and ended during

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1848-516: The Dalmanutha of Mark 8 :10 are likely corrupt forms of Magdal (Magdala) and Magdal Nuna (Magdala Nunaya). At the beginning of the 20th century, R. Lendle, a German architect purchased some land from the Arab villagers to carry out excavations, but no reports were made of the findings. The remains of a church with an apse and a stone inscribed with a cross and the date 1389 were found near Birqat Sitti Miriam (Arabic: "The Pool of Our Lady Mary") on

1932-482: The First Jewish-Roman War . All four gospels refer to a follower of Jesus called Mary Magdalene , which is usually assumed to mean "Mary from Magdala", although there is no biblical information to indicate whether it was her birthplace or her home. Most Christian scholars assume that she was from Magdala Nunayy. Recognition of Magdala as the birthplace of Mary Magdalene appears in texts dating back to

2016-648: The Golan Heights ), Majdal Bani Fadil (in the West Bank ) and Majdal Anjar (in modern-day Lebanon ). Magdala's reference in Matthew 15: 39 is, in some editions, given as " Magadan "; and in Mark 8:10 it is " Dalmanutha ". In 2014, Joan Taylor argued against the identification of al-Majdal with either Magdala or Tarichaea, and questioned the association with Mary Magdelene. The New Testament makes one disputable mention of

2100-660: The Israeli-occupied territories of Golan Heights, the other three being Ein Qiniyye , Mas'ade , and Buq'ata . While the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon are administratively joined, they differ geologically and geographically, with their boundary being marked by the Sa'ar Stream ; Majdal Shams and Ein Qiniyye sit on limestone on the Hermon side, while Buq'ata and Mas'ade are on the Golan side, which

2184-449: The Magdala stone , which has a seven-branched menorah symbol carved on it. It is the earliest menorah of that period to be discovered outside Jerusalem . Archaeologists discovered an entire first century Jewish town lying just below the surface. The excavation revealed multiple structures and four mikvaot (plural of mikvah or mikveh ). In 2021, another synagogue from the same period

2268-598: The Romans during the First Jewish-Roman War . Christian pilgrims wrote of visiting the house and church of Mary Magdalene from the 6th century onward, but little is known about the village in the Mamluk and early Ottoman period, indicating it was likely small or uninhabited. In the 19th century, Western travellers generally describing it as a very small and poor Muslim village. Francesco Quaresmi writes of al-Majdal in 1626 that "certain people have claimed that her house

2352-454: The 12th century mention the location of Magdala, but fail to mention the presence of any church at that time. Under the rule of the Mamluks in the 13th century, sources indicate that the church was used as a stable. In 1283, Burchard of Mount Sion records having entered the house of Mary Magdalene in the village, and about ten years later, Ricoldus of Montecroce noted his joy at having found

2436-433: The 1950s. Majdal Shams played a significant role in the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–1927. In October 1925, a few months after Syrian Druze had begun fighting French forces in the nearby province of Jabal al-Duruz , a group of the town's Druze residents looted local Christian property. Mandate authorities sent troops to restore order, and community leaders contacted the central command of the revolt for assistance defending

2520-610: The 1960s, there was a public elementary school in Majdal Shams. Residents attended the regional high school and registered marriages at the court in Quneitra . These institutions served to integrate the community into the broader region and state. Since the June 1967 Six-Day War , Majdal Shams has been under Israeli occupation. During the 1967 Six Day War, residents of the nearby towns of 'Ayn Fit , Banias , Jubata ez-Zeit , and Za'ura took shelter in Majdal Shams. After Israeli forces had secured

2604-473: The 3rd century CE, and in the top layer, one dated to the time of Constantine . Another cache of coins found there contained 74 from Tyre , 15 from Ptolemais , 17 from Gadara , 14 from Scythopolis , 10 from Tiberias, 9 from Hippos , 8 from Sepphoris and 2 from Gaba. In 1991, during a period of severe drought, the waters of the Sea of Galilee receded and the remains of a tower with a base made of basalt pillars

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2688-421: The 6th century CE. In the 8th and 10th centuries CE, Christian sources write of a church in the village that was Mary Magdalene's house, where Jesus is said to have exorcised her of demons. The anonymously penned Life of Constantine attributes the building of the church to Empress Helena in the 4th century CE, at the location where she found Mary Magdalene's house. Christian pilgrims to Palestine in

2772-517: The Arab Palestinians during the 1948 Palestine war . Since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War , Majdal Shams along with the broader Golan Heights have been under Israeli occupation , and effectively annexed in 1981, in a move only recognized by the United States. The US recognition was lobbied by Israeli officials. Majdal Shams is the largest of the four remaining Syrian Druze communities in

2856-470: The Arab villages surrounding it were also depopulated, including Al-Majdal. Benny Morris writes that the inhabitants were persuaded by the headmen of [neighbouring Jewish] Migdal and Kibbutz Ginosar to evacuate their homes; the villagers were paid P£200 for eight rifles, ammunition and a bus they handed over. They were then transported to the Jordanian border by bus. Al-Majdal was subsequently bulldozed by

2940-565: The Development of the Arab Villages, and Al-Marsad : Arab Human Rights Center in Golan Heights. One kilometer east of the town center is Shouting Hill , where residents used to line up with bullhorns to make small-talk with relatives on the Syrian controlled side before the advent of cellphones. Majdal Shams has a thriving arts scene. Local bands like Toot Ard and Hawa Dafi have toured internationally. Local visual artists are supported by

3024-627: The Dyers" or "Tower of Dyers"), although some think these to be the same identification. Whether they are one and the same place has yet to be determined, as both Aramaic names appear in the Babylonian Talmud ( Pesahim 46b) and Jerusalem Talmud ( Ta'anit 4:8) respectively. Others ascribe the name of the site to the Greek Magdala Taricheae ("Magdala of the Fish Salters"), likely due to

3108-540: The Fateh Mudarris Center for Arts and Culture. Majdal Shams was featured in the award-winning 2004 Israeli film The Syrian Bride . The Golan Heights is known for its Druze cuisine that blends regional ingredients with traditional recipes. Key elements include bulgur and freekeh , produced at Said Ibrahim's mill, and kishk , a fermented milk product made from bulgur and goat milk yogurt used in winter soups. Abu Jabel's factory specializes in knafeh ,

3192-664: The Franciscan-owned grounds. Between 1971 and 1977 Magdala was partially excavated by Virgilio Canio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem. However, their reports are in Italian and attracted little notice. Between 1971 and 1976, excavations also discovered the remains of what is thought to have been a Byzantine era monastery near the sea. The excavations were hindered by

3276-642: The Franciscans. Another small plot of land was owned by the Greek Orthodox Church, while the Jewish National Fund (JNF) owned the remainder. The Arabic name Majdal means "tower" and preserves the ancient place name Magdala. Magdala was also known in ancient times as Migdal ( Hebrew ), and the Aramaic names ascribed to it are either Magdala Nunaya (also, Migdal Nunnaya or Nunayah; "Tower of Fish") or Magdala Tza'baya (also Migdal Seb'iya; "Magdala of

3360-684: The Golan Druze had opted to become Israeli citizens. As of 2011, many residents had kept in contact with their relatives in Syria and travelled there to visit family or study. Damascus University was open to them free of charge. However, the number of Druze who took Israeli citizenship jumped to over 20% by 2018 and kept rising during the Syrian Civil War . Those who apply for Israeli citizenship are entitled to vote, run for Knesset and receive an Israeli passport. For foreign travel, non-citizens are issued

3444-403: The Golan Heights, marriage ages were rising, the divorce rate had significantly increased to 15%, women's status was improving, and the streets displayed a mix of modern influences, including tattooed young men, women with earrings, pubs, and even marijuana use. In Majdal Shams, some residents have even enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces . In March 2024, Abu Saleh was re-elected with 58% of

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3528-634: The Greek name Tarichaea (Ant. 14.20; 20. 159; J.W. 1. 180; 2. 252), derived from the Greek Τάριχος or tarichos , meaning 'fish preserved by salting or drying', although the matter remains disputed. Josephus is the primary source for Taricheae H.H. Kitchener of the Palestine Exploration Fund suggested that Taricheae was to be identified with the nearby ruin, Khurbet Kuneitriah , between Tiberias and Migdal. Others identify Taricheae with Kerek . The Magadan mentioned in Matthew 15 :39 and

3612-454: The Israeli military had forced them to accept the cards and had forcibly confiscated documents proving Syrian citizenship. During the 1970s, a few residents of Majdal Shams received permission to cross the ceasefire line into Syrian-controlled territory, either to rejoin relatives or attend university in Damascus. During the 1990s, large numbers of residents began to receive permission to cross

3696-524: The Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Druze in Syria ), and the Alawites of Ghajar. 33°0′0.0″N 35°45′0.0″E  /  33.000000°N 35.750000°E  / 33.000000; 35.750000 This geography of Israel article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Majdal Shams Majdal Shams ( Arabic : مجدل شمس ; Hebrew : מַגְ'דַל שַׁמְס )

3780-517: The Israelis in 1948. In 1910–1911, the Jewish village of Migdal was established adjacent to Al-Majdal. After 1948, Migdal expanded to include some of the village land of Al-Majdal. Walid Khalidi describes the village remains in 1992: "The site is dotted with rubble, Christ's-thorn , and a few palm and olive trees. The only remaining village landmark is the neglected shrine of Muhammad al-'Ajami,

3864-497: The Jews against the Romans." The site contained an Islamic domed structure and an old stone house surrounded by a stone wall topped with barbed wire. Weeds had grown over the site where excavations were carried out in the 1970s but had been suspended due to water seepage from underground springs. An Arab family living in a nearby shack served as caretakers for the portion of the site owned by

3948-635: The Second Temple period supports Josephus 's narrative of the Roman destruction of Magdala during the First Jewish–Roman War . Excavations show that after the destruction, during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods, the city moved slightly to the north. "...it [Magdala] was the most important city on the western bank of the lake, contributing a wagon-load of taxes [...] until Herod Antipas raised up

4032-639: The area, soldiers forced refugees across the ceasefire line into Syrian-controlled territory, but permitted residents of Majdal Shams and a few other communities to remain in their homes. As Israel and Syria fortified the ceasefire line, which ran along the eastern edge of Majdal Shams, the community was isolated from the rest of Syria. Many residents were separated from their relatives living or working in Syrian-controlled territory—as many as 50% from at least one sibling, parent, or child. Majdal Shams retained close ties to Syria. Residents frequently gathered at

4116-541: The beach, which is white, sandy, pebbly, and full of small shells." In 1881 the PEF 's Survey of Western Palestine described al-Majdal as a stone-built village, situated on a partially arable plain, with an estimated population of about 80. Fellahin from Egypt are said to have settled in the village some time in the 19th century. A population list from about 1887 showed el Mejdel to have about 170 inhabitants; all Muslims. The Jewish agricultural settlement of Migdal

4200-427: The ceasefire line to conduct religious pilgrimages or attend university. A small number of women also applied to cross the ceasefire line and marry Syrian men. This crossing program was the subject of the film The Syrian Bride . From 2008 to 2017, Dolan Abu Saleh  [ he ] was the appointed head of the local council. In the elections of 2018, in which many residents chose not to participate, Abu Sallach

4284-458: The church and house still standing. Al-Majdal ( Arabic : المجدل , "tower", also transliterated Majdal, Majdil and Mejdel) was a Palestinian Arab village, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (200 meters or 660 feet below sea level; 32°49′28″N 35°31′00″E  /  32.82444°N 35.51667°E  / 32.82444; 35.51667 ), 5 km (3 miles) north of Tiberias and south of Khan Minyeh . destroyed by

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4368-667: The country east of the lake, Jesus 'took ship and came into the coast of Magdala;' for which Mark the Evangelist writes Dalmanutha . Here, the Pharisees began to question him, but he 'left them, and entering into the ship again, departed to the other side [...] This view is further confirmed by the testimony of the Rabbins in the Jerusalem Talmud, compiled at Tiberias; who several times speak of Magdala as adjacent to Tiberias and Hammath or

4452-498: The doorstep reading kai su ("and you" or "you too") is the only one of its kind to be found in Israel, though similar inscriptions have been found in private homes excavated in Antioch . Other artifacts discovered in the excavations of the 1970s include a needle and lead weights for repairing and holding down fishing nets, and numerous coins. Many of the coins dated to the time of the first Jewish revolt against Rome (66 - 70 CE), four to

4536-410: The east of it, a building encompassing 60 meters (200 ft) of closed space was revealed that is thought to be either a 1st-century CE mini- synagogue or nymphaeum . Other findings include a tower, aqueduct , and large paved court enclosed by colonnades to the south, and to the north, a large urban villa. The villa was in use between the 1st century CE and the Byzantine era; a Greek inscription at

4620-518: The eastern edge of the village with bullhorns to shout messages to friends and relatives on the Syrian side of the ceasefire line. Through the 1970s, and often later, many households refused to pay taxes to the State of Israel. In 1981, when the Israeli Knesset formally extended Israeli law to the Golan Heights and attempted to force Israeli citizenship to residents of Majdal Shams, the community staged

4704-640: The four Druze towns - Buq'ata , Ein Qiniyye , Majdal Shams and Mas'ade -, and the southern part of the Alawite town of Ghajar . Internationally seen as Syrian territory, Israel occupied the area in 1967. On December 14, 1981, the Israeli Knesset passed the Golan Heights Law, applying Israeli laws to the territory and creating the Golan subdistrict as an administrative body. The population consists mainly of Israeli Jews , Druze (see Status of Druze in

4788-636: The gospels is said to be derived from Magdala as her home and place of birth. Alfred Edersheim cites the Talmud as evidence for this naming practice, which describes several Rabbis as 'Magdalene' or residents of Magdala. Majdal and Majdalani ("of Majdal") are common place names and family names in the Syria -Palestine region. Examples of such place names include Al-Majdal, Askalan , Majdal Yaba , and Al-Mujaydil (depopulated Palestinian villages located in modern-day Israel), Majdal Shams (a Syrian- Druze village in

4872-429: The holes were caused by ants having eaten through it, and for this reason it was called hajar al-namla , "the ant´s stone." At the time of the 1922 census of Palestine , Majdal had a population of 210 Muslims, increasing to 284 Muslims living in 62 houses by the 1931 census . The village economy was based on agriculture, vegetables and grain. In the 1945 statistics Al-Majdal had a population of 360 Muslims with

4956-633: The hot springs. The Migdal-el of the Old Testament in the tribe of Naphtali was probably the same place." In his account of an expedition to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea in 1849, William Francis Lynch reports that it was "a poor village of about 40 families, all fellahin," living in houses of stone with mud roofs, similar to those in Tur'an . Arriving by boat a few years later, Bayard Taylor describes

5040-508: The late Roman period (third century CE). Later excavations in 2009–2013 brought perhaps the most important discovery in the site: an ancient synagogue , called the " Migdal Synagogue ", dating from the Second Temple period . It is the oldest synagogue found in the Galilee, and one of the few synagogues from that period found in the entire country, as of the time of the excavation. They also found

5124-473: The north of the village and the maqam of Sheikh Muhammad ar-Raslan (or ar-Ruslan) south of the village, as shown on PEF maps and British maps of the 1940s. The first shrine is mentioned by Victor Guérin in 1863. He writes that he arrived in the village from the north: "At seven twenty minutes I crossed the fifth important stream, called Wadi al-Hammam. Behind him is a wely dedicated to the saint Sidi al-Adjemy. At seven o'clock twenty-five minutes I reach Mejdel,

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5208-413: The other marked only by a low kerb of stones. The larger tomb was covered with purple and green cloth. Visiting in the 1980s and 1990s, Jane Schaberg reports that the site was marked by a sign that says: "This was the birthplace of Mary Magdelene, a city that flourished toward the end of the Second Temple period and one of the cities fortified by Joseph ben Matityahu (Josephus) during the great revolt of

5292-421: The rebels. The plan did not come to fruition; according to conflicting accounts, the militia never formed, or engaged in only a single symbolic attack on the Syria-Palestine border. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War , Abu Salah's son Sultan formed a militia of 300 local men. The militia offered to serve as paid mercenaries for Zionist forces, but later volunteered with Palestinian and Arab forces. Majdal Shams

5376-580: The substitution of Magdala for Magadan as simply "to substitute a known for an unknown place". The parallel passage in Mark's gospel ( Mark 8:10 ) gives (in the majority of manuscripts) a quite different place name, Dalmanutha , although a handful of manuscripts give either Magdala or Magadan, presumably by assimilation to the Matthean text—believed in ancient times to be older than that of Mark, though this opinion has now been reversed. The Jewish Talmud distinguishes between two Magdalas: Some researchers think that Josephus refers to Magdala Nunayya by

5460-412: The surrounding villages travelled to Majdal Shams for safety because of the village's elevation and proximity to a major water source at Lake Ram . During the winter of 1895, for example, Druze residents of neighboring communities sheltered in Majdal Shams during a local conflict between irregular Druze and Circassian militias. The Swiss traveler Burckhardt visited Majdal Shams in 1810. He described

5544-401: The town against the French. In response, rebel leader Zaid al-Atrash (brother of Sultan al-Atrash ) led a force of 1,000 men to Majdal Shams. Zaid al-Atrash drove French troops from the area and established a rebel garrison in Majdal Shams to guard the road between Damascus and Marjayoun . The garrison housed up to 10,000 rebels until April 1926, when French forces launched a renewed attack on

5628-428: The town around 1907, and commented that "The whole place swarms with children, and many of them are so pretty that the traveller is at first greatly attracted to them." James Kean, who wrote about the town in the 1890s, described Majdal Shams as a "remarkable village" and noted that it was "famous for the manufacture of steel blades." Workshops in Majdal Shams continued to make souvenir daggers for European tourists until

5712-436: The town's famed fish-curing industry. The identification of Magdala with Taricheae, however, remains inconclusive. Archaeologist, Mordechai Aviam, who (like W.F. Albright ) held that Tarichaea was to be recognised in the name Migdal (Magdala), admits that during the large archaeological excavations conducted at the site, no remains of fortifications or a destruction layer were found. Mary Magdalene's surname as transcribed in

5796-404: The town. During the assault, French soldiers destroyed much of Majdal Shams and killed approximately 80 residents of the town. Beginning in the 1930s, Majdal Shams residents and community leaders became involved in political developments in nearby Mandatory Palestine . During the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine , traditional leader Assad Kanj Abu Salah proposed forming a local militia to assist

5880-572: The view from path winding up from shoreline, "[...] through oleanders , nebbuks, patches of hollyhock , anise -seed, fennel , and other spicy plants, while on the west, great fields of barley stand ripe for the cutting. In some places, the Fellahs, men and women, were at work, reaping and binding the sheaves." In 1857, Solomon Caesar Malan wrote: "Each house, whether separate or attached to another, consisted of one room only. The walls built of mud and of stones, were about ten or twelve feet high; and perhaps as many or more feet square. The roof which

5964-456: The village, which he called Medjel, as situated on a small plain high up in the mountains, with a population of Druzes and four or five Christian families. W. M. Thomson reported that in 1846, the large village "Mejdel es Shems, [was] inhabited by Druses, a fierce, warlike race, sufficiently numerous to keep the Bedawîn Arabs at a respectful distance." In 1870, missionaries associated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America opened

6048-542: The vote. His party won 6 seats in the council. On 27 July 2024, a rocket attack on a soccer field in Majdal Shams killed 12 children and teenagers. Israel, the US, and weapon analysts attributed the attack to Hezbollah . Following this, the Jewish Agency , JFED of North America , and Keren Hayesod announced 600,000 NIS in donations to the town, stating in a letter, "We see the Druze community as family." Majdal Shams has

6132-421: The water from underground springs, as well as the destruction wrought by the bulldozing of the Arab village which pushed many ancient artifacts towards the sea. The mosaic of the Byzantine monastery was badly damaged, though part of the geometric and cross design of red, white, blue and ash-coloured stones could still be seen. A Roman era paved road dating to the 1st century CE was also uncovered and identified. To

6216-401: Was a stone block carved with a seven-branched menorah . In December 2021, a second synagogue dating to the Second Temple period was unearthed at Magdala. It is the first time two synagogues from this period have been found in a single site. The second synagogue found was not as ornate as the first, and probably served the city's industrial zone. The city was destroyed by the Romans during

6300-570: Was acquired by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land sometime after 1935. During this period, Al-Majdal had a rectangular layout, with most of the houses crowded together, though a few to the north along the lakeshore were spaced further apart. Built of stone, cement, and mud, some had roofs of wood and cane covered with a layer of mud. It was the smallest village in the district of Tiberias in terms of land area. The Muslim inhabitants maintained

6384-485: Was an ancient Jewish city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee , 5 km (3 miles) north of Tiberias . In the Babylonian Talmud it is known as Magdala Nunayya (Aramaic: מגדלא נוניה , lit.   'Tower of the Fishes';), and which some historical geographers think may refer to Tarichaea ( lit.   ' the place of processing fish ' ). It is believed to be the birthplace of Mary Magdalene . Until

6468-431: Was discovered at Magdala. At Magdala, two texts from the first century were discovered. The initial finding is a Greek mosaic inscription embedded in tessera , displaying the word ΚΑΙΣΥ, translated as "(Welcome) also to you!". The second finding is a lead weight with Greek inscriptions from the 23rd year of Agrippa II , referencing two agoranomoi , enabling its dating to either 71/2 or 82/3 CE. A collapse layer from

6552-450: Was elected as mayor with 96% of the vote. His local party won all the seats in the council. Israel appoints the teachers in Majdal Shams, prohibiting pro-Syrian views in schools. Israel also appointed the local council and had imprisoned residents that protested. In the 2010s, Majdal Shams' main street has transformed into a vibrant area with bars, pubs, and hotels. By 2017, it was reported that in Majdal Shams and other Druze villages in

6636-450: Was established in 1595 by Druze warlord Fakhr-al-Din II , in order to strengthen Druze presence in the Hermon mount. Another version says that the Druze families began to settle on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon in the early 18th century. By the late 19th century, Majdal Shams was an important regional center and home of the local Ottoman administrator (Mudir). In times of strife, residents of

6720-460: Was established in 1910–1911 on land purchased by Russian Zionists Jews, 1.5 kilometers (0.93 mi) northwest of the village of Al-Majdal. Bellarmino Bagatti and another Franciscan friar who visited the village in 1935 were hosted by the Mukhtar Mutlaq, whose nine wives and descendants are said to have made up almost the whole of the population of the village at the time. Part of the site

6804-470: Was flat, consisted of trunks of trees placed across from one wall to another, and then covered with small branches, grass and rushes; over which a thick coating of mud and gravel was laid. ... A flight of rude steps against the wall outside leads up to the roof; and thus enables those who will to reach it without entering the house." There were two shrines in Al-Majdal: the maqam of Sheikh Muhammad al-'Ajami to

6888-548: Was integrated into economic networks that extended into both other parts of Syria, and Lebanon. The town traded local grapes for olives grown in Fiq , 50 kilometers to the south. Men from Majdal Shams harvested cedar wood in Lebanon, which they manufactured into plows and sold in as-Suwayda . In the 1950s, some local residents travelled to Lebanon to work in construction. Residents of Majdal Shams received access to Syrian state services. By

6972-476: Was not the biblical Magdala. The village appeared as El Megdel on the 1799 map of Pierre Jacotin . In the early 19th century, foreign travellers interested in the Christian traditions associated with the site visited the village. In 1807 U. Seetzen stayed overnight in "the little Mahommedan village of Majdil, situated on the bank of the lake." The English traveler James Silk Buckingham observed in 1816 that

7056-465: Was revealed about 150 feet (46 m) from the shoreline. Archaeologists believe it served as a lighthouse for fishermen. It has since been submerged by the waters once again. Excavations begun at Magdala during 2007-8 were called The Magdala Project . Salvage excavations at Magdala are being conducted under the auspices of The Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa . As of 2021,

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