The rich tradition and profound spirituality of Judaism has touched people the world over for thousands of years. With the arrival in the Near East of Alexander the Great and the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE; the synagogue came to represent a new era of this powerful religion; one which witnessed a greater emphasis on shared religious experience and prayer. In turn; the synagogue; derived from the Greek; meaning an "assembly;" has come to mean the Jewish house of worship; evolving into a "sacred realm;" in which the Torah came to play a central role linking the biblical past with the messianic future. Of course; the synagogue has been much more that a house of worship--it served the Jewish people as a place of learning; a community center; and often as the official seat of Jewish self-government. Indeed; it is the institution most closely associated with the development of post-biblical Judaism throughout the ages. Sacred Realm: The Emergence of the Synagogue in the Ancient World offers the first comprehensive history of the architectural and archaeological development of the synagogue from the third century BCE to 700 CE. Telling the story of over one hundred ancient synagogues throughout the world and their place in the history of Judaism and of Western civilization; this book provides a fascinating representation of the cultural; intellectual; and artistic achievements of three thousand years of Jewish experience. Informative essays detail every aspect of the ancient synagogue; while beautiful illustrations and maps take the reader to the actual historic site. Sacred Realm is an accompaniment to a monumental exhibition organized by the Yeshiva University Museum in New York. Borrowing from museums in North America; Europe; and Israel; the exhibition presents a unique collection of artifacts and manuscripts--including many pieces never before displayed in the United States--and will depict for the first time an in-depth history of the synagogue during the Greco-Roman period. From fourth-century Egyptian incense burners and inscribed bowl fragments to fifth-century Gaza mosaics decorated with Menorah and Shofar; Piyyut (liturgical poetry) manuscripts; and assorted textile; column; and pottery fragments; this collection is the most significant presentation of ancient Jewish religious life ever assembled in the United States. Lavishly illustrated with both color and black and white photographs of the artifacts; manuscripts; maps; site diagrams; and reconstructions; Sacred Realm is not only a detailed record of this historic exhibit; but a guide to the evolution of Judaism's most sacred institution.
#579411 in Books John Hope Franklin 2000-07-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x 1.40 x 9.00l; 1.66 #File Name: 0195084519480 pagesRunaway Slaves Rebels on the Plantation
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Rebels - The stories of daily and normal resistanceBy Read-A-LotIn order to fully appreciate this book you must clearly understand the purpose. Failure to do so will probably result in a disappointing experience. The focal point of Runaway Slaves is; "slave flight." Not the organized rebellions of a Nat Turner; Denmark Vesey or a Gabriel Prosser that readers may be familiar with; but the everyday individual resistance perpetrated by thousands despite the punishment and attendant violence.So what you get is an examination of the slave system as told through the many examples of those who absconded. Some for days; others for weeks and months. It is not a book about the planning of escapes and what happened to the individuals who escaped; the book paints the picture of how abhorrent a system of bondage is. It also explodes the myth of a happy plantation system and contented "slaves."Even in the face of the most horrific corrections; the absconding continued and the discontent remained extremely high. What becomes extremely clear is the profits involved in the trafficking of human beings was apparently worth all the trouble that plantation owners went through. Runaways were a cost of doing business that many southerners tried to hide from the larger public. The obvious reason for this was to keep the lie of happy and contented bondsmen and bondswomen alive."Masters were forced to explain how 'contented' and 'well cared' servants abandoned them in such large numbers."Although the stories of absconders are told in paragraphs and sometimes mere sentences the courage and boldness that African people displayed is simply amazing. Every African-American should be proud of how our ancestors were committed to freedom under the most heinous conditions. Never again should you believe in the docility of "slaves" as a whole.The use of notices of runaways and petitions to legislatures and county courts was a brilliant deployment of sources. These two sources "provide a number of unique strengths. Masters who advertised for a return of their property had little reason to misinform their readers and every reason to be as precise as possible."The takeaway for the reader is the information and inspiration you will receive from the story of consistent and constant resistance to slavery in this book. You will also have a great resource for any other reading you may want to do in the area of slavery and resistance to bondage.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Valuable Reference and Interesting ReadBy Lorraine P. ZigmanI recently did a program on the Underground Railroad; especially in my State of Vermont. This is a valuable addition to my library on the subject and will be used as a reference in the future. It is an interesting read for anyone interested in the subject matter; and the past history and lives of African Americans.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Compelling informationBy DiscoMattFrom the author of college level Black History.
