Synagogue - history, places, architecture, iconography and sources WNHS-HS-MONA1
The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the following topics so that they may acquire the skills to describe Jewish religious art appropriately:
1. Organisational matters. Introduction , a brief history of the Jewish people and Judaism (Henry Abramson, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUlM2a2tsOM).
2. The nature of art and its written sources. The Tabernacle – a biblical description – its furnishings and their symbolic significance. The Temple in Jerusalem – a biblical description, a brief history, architecture, furnishings, and the symbolic significance of the Temple and Jerusalem.
3. The synagogue – terminology, history and sources, architecture, functions, furnishings, its connections to the Temple in Jerusalem, and the most significant examples of ancient synagogues in the Middle East.
4. Iconography of ancient synagogue decoration and its sources. The zodiac – the Bet Alfa synagogue and other examples in Israel, the Dura Europos synagogue and its iconographic programme.
5. Synagogues in Poland – a brief history of the Jewish community (Henry Abramson, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdskbkLLdG4), the architecture and furnishings of synagogues and their evolution over the centuries. Brick and wooden synagogues – selected examples.
6. Iconography of synagogue decoration – animal, plant and geometric motifs. Jewish mysticism – the wooden synagogue in Gwoździec – history, architecture and iconographic programme.
(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Course coordinators
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Subject level
(in Polish) Punkty ECTS
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Learning outcomes
The student uses specialist English-language terminology relating to Jewish culture and art to accurately describe historical monuments and artistic phenomena; they describe, in English, the architecture, functions and iconography of synagogue decorations in Poland, highlighting their unique artistic features and historical context.
Assessment criteria
COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:
- attendance at classes – max. 26 points (13 lecture hours × 2 points = 26 points)
- a presentation, during class, on a synagogue chosen from the list posted in the M-Teams group, based on materials indicated by the lecturer and the student’s own research – max 12 points (7 points required to pass)
- passing the test – max 62 points (36 points required to pass).
- SEMESTER ASSESSMENT – MAX 100 POINTS
- attendance at classes – max 26 points
- presentation, during class, of a synagogue chosen from the list posted in the M-Teams group – max 12 points
- test – max 62 points
Grading scale: 60–75 = 3.0 / 76–79 = 3.5 / 80–90 = 4.0 / 91–94 = 4.5 / 95–100 = 5.0
Practical placement
n.a.
Bibliography
LITERATURA PODSTAWOWA
1. Bible (Old Testament) - selected passages (The Book of Exodus,The Book of Kings 1, Psalms among others).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+6&version=NIV
2. Friedman Mira, The Meaning of the Zodiac in Synagogues in the Land of Israel Turing the Byzantine Period: Ars Judaica, 2005, vol. 1, pp 51 – 66.
3. Ida Huberman, Living Symbols, Massada 1988
4. Perek Shirah.
5. Piechotka Maria and Kazimierz, Heaven's Gates: Wooden Synagogues…, Warsaw 2020 - selected passages.
6. Piechotka Maria and Kazimierz, Heaven's Gates: Masonry Syngaogues…, Warsaw 2020 - selected passages.
Notes
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Term 2026/27_Z:
Lecture dates: |
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: