The dedication plates on the 9’ Lion’s Trail – Golan are unfinished. The bottom half, the second part of the historical dedication, has not been placed because where the sculpture is located is closed. The last bit of work cannot be safely completed.
The Lion’s Trail – Golan sculpture is located adjacent to the Israeli National Historical site of Ein Keshatot, “Spring of the Arches.” It is a “hidden” Jewish archeological treasure, a huge, reconstructed synagogue from the sixth century, high up in the Golan Heights.
https://einkeshatot.org.il/en/home/
The site was correctly documented by proto-Christian Zionist Laurence Oliphant in 1884. He trekked across the largely depopulated Golan Heights plateau on a mission of exploration to identify Judeo-Christian biblical sites in Ottoman Palestine. It was not all that hard for Oliphant to recognize the ruins as having been a synagogue. Though it had been more than a thousand years since the great earthquake of 749 destroyed the site, Oliphant clearly saw a Menorah carved unto one of the remaining Corinthian, still standing, columns next to an Oron HaKodesh, a Holy Ark, where Jews had stored their Torahs.
The earthquake did not just destroy the synagogue at Ein Keshatot. It destroyed more than 30 synagogues that existed in the Golan, and possibly the same number of Churches.
The Golan Heights had been a significant area of Jewish life. After the earthquake, Jews could not and were not permitted to return to live in the Golan by the occupying Muslim powers and later the Ottoman Turks. Jews could not return to live in the Golan until after the Israeli victory over the Syrians in the 1967 war.
What was left behind was a significant elevated sculpture base, stone paved foundation and the magnificent, photogenic view of the Galilee spreading below. It was worth thousands of dollars. It would also be torn down unless it could be suitably repurposed.
Having visited Ein Keshatot, and not being involved in the incident, I did not have the embarrassment and ill feelings of others. I recognized an opportunity to tell a story of Jewish historical legitimacy and presence that was roiling then and still does today.
Anti-Israel political narratives deny Jews lived in the Golan. Some reluctantly admit a few Jews may have lived a long time ago in the Golan, but they are long gone. Pseudo-historians insist, Jews returning are occupiers, thieves, and
usurpers. Their quasi-River to the Sea, Palestine Must be Free (of Jews) slogan is politically popular.
The argument was and is absurd.
Benny Kashriel, the past mayor of Maaleh Adummim, shared with me, his community is living on Jewish land cited in the book of Joshua. “Jews,” he said, “have lived here for over 3,000 years. There is no question about Jews, Jewish historical legitimacy, and the land.”
The thought stuck. I wondered if the same is true about the Golan.
Jews living in the Golan are referenced in the Old Testament, the Book of Joshua, the Book of Chronicles, the Psalms, even the New Testament.
An idea crystalized: could the empty sculpture platform be used to place a something interpreting Jewish historical legitimacy and the land?
I shared my idea with Sam Philipe, an internationally recognized sixth-generation Jerusalemite, sculptor, and friend. We have worked together for years to fill in the holes of Jewish memory through art and artistic interpretation. His interest is purely art. He has worked with Jews and across the aisle. My interest is messaging.
The artist took the input and came back after extensive research with a proposal, the giant Menorah on the base with a lion sitting in front. Lions lived in the Golan.
Scouring museums, Sam found a model, a Hittite Lion. It was unique. It was powerful. It was an artistic opportunity. It would attract eyes and legs to see it. The messaging would be on the plates below.
Much time progressed. My idea expanded into a national project. What if we could create a Lion’s Trail, with a Lion of Judah throughout Israel? Wherever the Lion of Judah was found, was a part of biblical Israel. They all would have a quote from the bible about the location. The Lions of the Lion’s Trail would all be big – 9’ plus.
The Golan Lion’s fabrication dragged on slowly, delayed with social and political caution. The Lion’s Trail, a tourism network of adventure and history, developed.
Ten Lions have been placed so far, from the Golan to Dimona in the South.
The Golan Lion is almost complete. It is still missing the second and most important plaque, President of the United States, Donald Trump’s 2019 recognition, the Golan is part of Israel. Lighting and a pathway to Ein Keshatot Park have not been completed.
Tens of thousands of visitors used to come to Ein Keshatot before October 7, 2023. Today, no one comes.
The danger of missile attack from Hezbollah or from the Syrians is very, very real. The area is closed, even to Israelis.
When peace can finally return, the Lion and the plaque will be completed.
Jerry Klinger is the President of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.