Nazareth Village

Part of the Nazareth Trust
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Exterior Stone Construction

In the left-hand image below, Nagib Karram and Kemal Tourani build up the corners of the synagogue. Ancient quarry cuts (on the left) are preserved, lending additional height to the walls. Heavy stones are set and wedged with smaller stones (chinks) with a mortar of earth/straw/lime filling voids in the wall, a masonry technique known as stone-on-stone construction that lends weight and insulation.

The Synagogue facade follows the style of a public building from the First Century, with large squarish limestone laid in more regular coursing. Wall corners are built up, leaving an open space in the middle where the door will be. Large bedrock ledges, left protruding from the interior walls, will be carved into benches for seating.