مجله دوربین دانشنامه هرات، ادبی، فرهنگی، هنری و اجتماعی 
Herat is an ancient city that has a lot of historical places. Alexander the Great built the Arg, which is known as Ikhtyaruddin Citadel. Now this huge structure is one of the most ancient and beautiful places in Herat. In 1978, four synagogues were discovered during archeological diggings, three of which were identified as Molla Ashor, Ghol and Yuao and one of them was anonymous . All of them are located in ancient places like Bardaraniha and Mohmandha Localities.
Later the Molla Ashor synagogue was transformed into a school and the Ghol synagogue was renamed as Hazrat Belal mosque. But Yuao has remained with its original characteristics.
Herat had the biggest community of Jews in Afghanistan; they had cultural connections with the Iranian Jews. Afghan Jews who mostly lived in Herat, Kabul, Balkh and some of them in Ghazni, have a long history in this country. Their place of residence in Herat was in the old city, mostly in Bazar-e-Iraq and Mohmandha localities; most of them were engaged in business and merchandized activities.
Herat’s Jews immigration to other countries started once the state of Israel was established in 1948 and it was simultaneous with the beginning of the Arab-Israel war. All remaining Jews left Herat following the 1978 Military Coup and the beginning of the civil wars .
The ancient pools and water reservoirs show the civilization and architectural art of this city . From an architectural and historical point of view, these water reservoirs are of equal importance to historical buildings like mosques and tombs.
In 2008, Herat’s ancient city won Asia-Oceanic cultural heritage prize in United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural Organization (UNESCO).
