The volcanic Golan Heights is Israel’s northeastern border. One gets to the Golan by traveling from the Hula Valley east across the Upper Jordan River or ascending east from the Sea of Galilee. To its east the Golan borders Syria. To its south is the small Yarmuk River and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. On its northern edge rises Mt. Hermon to a height of 9,200 feet. Israel only holds 6% of the Hermon. The rest of the Hermon is held by Syria and Lebanon.

Jewish roots on the Golan date back to biblical times when the Israelite tribes of Gad, Reuven and part of Menashe conquered an area called the Bashan from the Amorite tribe. Part of the Bashan is today’s Golan Heights. Archeologists have discovered remains of 34 Jewish synagogues, houses or worship, in the Golan. These remains date from Roman and Byzantine times.