[Avodah] Oldest Synagogue in Chu"L Found

[Micha Berger]

In Phanagoria, Southern Russia.
Built 51 CE, meaning, 20 years before the end of Bayis Sheini.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sywsyzvfyg

See the pictures. As is usual for the period, the menoros have round arms.
But 7 arms, and decorated in what could be kaftor vaferach, implying
that in this distant shul, they believed the BHMQ was using a rounded
arm menorah. (IMHO, accuractly. Shuls in Israel of the period had
similar representation. Not to mention the rest of that debate, no
need to rehash?)

Another notable piece is how early having a pushka in shul was de
rigeur. Even if it was a later addition, we are only talking as late
as amoraim before the shul was destroyed (the article implies sometime
before 600 ce).

And maybe that small side room mentioned in the snippet below is our
first evidence of an Ezras Nashim? It's commonly believed that in this
era, there was none -- women simply weren't coming to shul at all.

Last, it is still the custom among many Edot haMizrach to have a garden
around the shul. It allows you a chance to calm the mind before entering.
(Or maybe there is a more authoritative reason. That is just what an
Egyptian friend told me he picked up in childhood.)

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 None of us will leave this place alive.
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   All that is left to us is
Author: Widen Your Tent      to be as human as possible while we are here.
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF          - Anonymous MD, while a Nazi prisoner

   Archaeologists reveal what they discovered in first century Russian
   Jewish quarter
   Itamar Eichner

   Archaeologists uncovered a magnificent Jewish quarter in Russia,
   located around the ruins of the oldest synagogue in the world
   discovered outside of Israel. This synagogue was built about 2,000
   years ago, during the time of the Second Temple. The synagogue and
   the Jewish quarter were first discovered last year in Phanagoria in
   southwest Russia.
   ...
   The synagogue was built in 51 CE and lasted about 500 years...
   ...
               ... Among other things, the remains of three remarkable
   marble menorahs and a stone lid of a charity box were uncovered. The
   building, with a total area of 140 square meters, included two rooms: a
   prayer hall, with three rows of benches, a platform, and a small room.
   The second room was probably used for meals and community meetings.
   Next to the synagogue was a winery, where kosher wine was made, and a
   building where food for community meals was stored. There was also a
   garden behind the building which probably served as the mikveh. The
   archaeologists also located clay barrels for irrigation, residential
   buildings, and a water supply system. Copper coins were discovered in
   excavations on the floor of the synagogue. Some of them were placed
   near the platform and the benches. Additional coins were found near the
   lid of the charity donation box. A total of 58 copper coins were found
   at the site.