The Golan, as evidenced by the over 100 archaeological sites found and studied since 1967, began to really flourish in the Talumudic era just as the rest of the country was in decline. Throughout the Golan synagogues were built, in Hamat Gader, Aphek, Dabura, Katzrin, Kanaf, Sogane (Yehudiya), Kfar Harub, Nob, Susita etc. The Golan is rarely mentioned in the Talmud and it is possible that many of the communities were founded only in the 4th Century.

Pictured here is Katzrin - a Talmudic city in Central Golan. It is most famous for  its large synagogue made of basalt stone. It features a releif of a menorah and one of a peacock. Many buildings in this once thriving city have been restored.

Birkat Ram - The largest crater lake in Israel. It is fed by  underground springs and lies just beneath the Hermon mountains. The Talmud tells us (Sanhedrin 108a) of great underground springs which opened during the Flood. Later all but three were sealed up. The three were Hammat Gader (Hamat Gader of today) near the Yarmuk, The Tiberias hot springs and the spring of Beit Ram, known today as Birkat Ram.

The Hermon area is mentioned in the Bible in the context of the land that was conquered by the Israelites from the Amorite kings: Land stretching from "the Arnon River unto Mt. Hermon" (Deut. 3:8).