Gamla and Jerusalem

Gamla was established in the year 81 BCE, by the Hashmonai king Alexander Yanai. Gamla was the capital of the Jewish Golan for approximately 150 years.

The city was built on a steep slope of a mountain that had the shape of a camel (in Hebrew - "Gamal") and so the city derived its name. In 66 CE, during the revolt against the Roman empire, Gamla joined the revolt and fought bravely in two battles and a siege which lasted one month.

The fighters at Gamla, outnumbered, defended their city and were forced to retreat to the citadel on top of the cliff. 4000 Jewish fighter were killed in the battle and another 5000 were killed jumping from the cliff. Only two women survived. Josephus Flavious described the events in great detail in his book "the war of the Jews against the Romans".

In the archeological excavations a few unique bronze coins were found on which is written in ancient Hebrew "to the redemption of Jerusalem". This finding of the coins, proves the strong ties between the two cities, and the strong belief and motivation of the Gamla defenders who truly believed that their battle is part of the battle for the defense of the Holy City, Jerusalem, and that their battle may save Jerusalem.

In 67 CE Gamla fell.

In 1967 in the "Six Day War" the Golan Heights were liberated. As then, also today - with one difference - Gamla Shall Not Fall Again!