The Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 70 ACE , at the peak of what is known as the Great Jewish Revolt against the Romans. In the year 132 ACE (only 62 years later), another riot – ‘the Bar Kochba Revolt’ – took place, the outcome of which was complete disaster for the Jewish community in Judea, including of course Jerusalem.
The survivors of the Jewish population and their leadership relocated in the Galilee and started to rebuild Jewish society, culture, and livelihood.
Not such a long time after this great catastrophe which some consider a genocide, new leadership arose under the very special personage of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. During the period of his administration, the tensions with Rome lessened and the ties were strengthened. Jewish society was united, religious spirituality reached a peak, and economy prospered, even to a degree of Jewish autonomy. The time of the Mishna and later the Talmud can be referred to a Golden Era in Jewish life.
The Galilee ,stretching from the Jezreel Valley northwards to the Lebanese border; and from the Mediterranean on the west coast, eastward to the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee at the foot of the Golan Heights ; constituted the region that became the heart of Jewish life during the Mishnaic and Talmudic (Late Roman and Byzantine) periods. Visit important centers and synagogues remaining from this period, as well as Safed (Tsfat) which attracted the Spanish immigration of many intellectuals and philosophers during the Ottoman reign and became a base for Jewish mysticism (Kabala).
Sites on the same route and close in themes and therefore can be exchanged or added, depending on personal preferences and time constraints.
Beit Shearim: the Jewish necropolis of the Roman Period.
Beit Alfa: where depictions in the ancient mosaic floor together with a modern audio visual presentation are an eye-opener to Jewish life in the area from 1600 years ago.