The Oldest Diaspora Synagogue found in Phanagoria, Russia
Menorah of Phanagoria - Менора Фанагории
On the subject of Iconoclastic Vandalism of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The synagogue burned in a violent invasion, pogrom fire in the 6th century. Phanagoria is in Russia now, but was part of the flourishing Greek settlements. All the Greek/Byzantine towns, Melitopol, Mariupol, Simferopol, Sevastopol as in polis- town.
Estimated that the synagogue was built in the 1st century and functioned until it was destroyed 500 years later! Discovered in 2023 archeological excavation.
The layer of fire from Phanagoria, according to scientists, is consistent with the events about which the Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea wrote: “Kepi and Phanagouris, from ancient times, were subordinate to the Romans and were so in my time. But recently, some of the barbarian tribes who lived in the neighboring regions took and destroyed them to the ground.”
“The decoration of the synagogue: inside the room there were marble columns topped with capitals with volutes, as well as a fenced area for the ark with Torah scrolls and bimah for reading Scripture. The synagogue contained at least three ornate marble menorahs, as well as several marble tables for religious purposes.” See article in Russian: В Фанагории обнаружили остатки синагоги.
Preserve the memory and shape of our iconic visual symbols. Boycott and resist disfigured menorahs.
PS, If true that the shule was founded in the 1st century, it means that these are children or themselves who could have seen the real menorah.