Image Details
Zev Radovan
“Peace upon Israel” reads the Hebrew inscription at the bottom of this mosaic from the seventh-century A.D. synagogue at Jericho. The mosaic features three of the most popular symbols in synagogue decoration: At center stands a seven-branched candelabrum, or menorah; a palm branch appears at lower left, a ram’s horn appears at lower right.
The question today is whether the “Peace upon Israel” mosaic will survive peace with Israel—the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, that is, which calls for the transfer of Jericho to Palestinian control. Given the fate of Jewish symbols in Gaza, there is ample cause for concern.