Uncovering the Holy Land:
The Archaeology of Jerusalem,
Masada, and Huqoq

April 15-17, 2021

Join us as we welcome
Professor Jodi Magness
to Temple Emanu-El!

Click here to register!

Jodi Magness is the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Fellow for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has participated in 20 different excavations in Israel and Greece. Her research interests include Jerusalem, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient synagogues, Masada, the Roman army in the East, and ancient pottery. She has numerous publications, including award-winning books, articles, and lectures for The Great Courses company. Her recent book Masada, a subject about which she will be speaking, was selected as a finalist for the 2019 National Jewish Book Award in History. Professor Magness received her B.A. in Archaeology and History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and her Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania. She was also a Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Center for Old World Archaeology and Art at Brown University, and we are thrilled that she will be returning to Providence to share her vast knowledge and breathtaking findings with us!

You can read more about Professor Magness and her work at http://jodimagness.org/

Schedule of Events

All programs will be held on Zoom. Links will be sent to those who register.

Thursday, April 15, 2021 @ 8:00pm

Ancient Synagogues in the Land of Israel

In this slide-illustrated lecture, we discuss the origins of ancient synagogues and discuss their development until the Muslim conquest of the Land of Israel in the early seventh century C.E. We examine various types of synagogue buildings in places such as Masada, Capernaum, Hammath Tiberias, and Beth Alpha, and devote special attention to the figured decoration and pagan motifs such as Helios and the zodiac cycle that decorate the mosaic floors of some of these synagogues.

CO-SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH ALLIANCE OF GREATER RHODE ISLAND
AND THE BOARD OF RABBIS OF GREATER RHODE ISLAND

Friday, April 16, 2021 @ 6:00pm

Shabbat Chai Services and Presentation:

Samson in Stone at Huqoq

Learn about the mosaic panels depicting the story of Samson found at the ancient synagogue in Huqoq in Israel's Galilee - a taste of Dr. Magness's most recent research, more of which she will present on Saturday night!

Shabbat dinner available for take out. Registrations for Shabbat dinner are required by April 12 at www.teprov.org/form/sc_apr2021

Saturday, April 17, 2021 @ 8:20pm

Havdalah and Presentation:

More than Just Mosaics:

The Ancient Synagogue at Huqoq

Since 2011, Professor Jodi Magness has
been directing excavations in the ancient village of Huqoq in Israel's Galilee.  The excavations have brought to light the remains of a monumental Late Roman (fifth century) synagogue building paved with stunning and unique mosaics, including biblical scenes and the first non-biblical story ever discovered decorating an ancient synagogue.  In this slide-illustrated lecture, Professor Magness describes these exciting finds, including the discoveries made in last summer's season. For more information visit www.huqoq.org

(Photo: Jim Haberman)

Register at www.teprov.org/form/holyland or 401-331-1616

All events are open to the public and take place on Zoom. Links will be sent to those who register.

All events are free of charge, thanks to our generous sponsors:
The Peter J. & Anna C. Woolf Education Fund
The Rabbi Morris G. & Rebbitzen Diana Silk Memorial Fund
The Judith & Peter Romney Wegner Judaic Studies Lecture Fund