Children uncover a Mosaic

The mosaic was apparently part of a Byzantine church or monastery. It includes a medallion with a radius of about three feet, decorated with a large black and red cross, surrounded by smaller crosses encircled by geometric shapes.

The students were from Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, a hillside community between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, close to the Trappist monastery at Latrun, believed to be the site where Jesus first revealed Himself to His disciples following His crucifixion. The “Oasis of Peace” community consists of 54 families––half Jewish, half Arab––who have been living, working, and raising their children together for nearly 30 years.

The archaeological project allowed the 9 to 12-year-olds of the bilingual, binational primary school to discover the ancient history of their area together and develop a renewed awareness and appreciation of the land they share.