P I T TS B U R G H
December 1, 2017 | 13 Kislev 5778
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Candlelighting 4:36 p.m. | Havdalah 5:38 p.m. | Vol. 60, No. 48 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
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Biblical stories, Greek imagery Jewish, Muslim decorate brilliant mosaic floors women of ancient Israeli synagogue seek greater understanding By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
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Nine years after being introduced, Pittsburgh and Israeli students keep penpalling. Page 3 LOCAL Making a point For women’s group, needlepoint is all the rage. Page 5
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The mosaic Zodiac sign of Capricorn was one of the many discoveries at the fifth-century synagogue in Huqoq. Photo by Jim Haberman, courtesy of Jodi Magness.
Cake (and cookies)
By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer
S Kosher cake decorators take their craft seriously. Page 12
cenes from the life of Samson, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel and the parting of the Red Sea may not seem like extraordinary subjects for ancient synagogue mosaics. But what about that Hebrew inscription about mitzvot, surrounded by theater masks and naked winged boys? Or that three-tiered mosaic depicting the meeting of two important men — one who may be Alexander the Great and who is accompanied by battle elephants? That one, archaeologist Jodi Magness told an audience gathered at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning Monday night, is the first non-biblical story ever discovered decorating an ancient synagogue. Stunning and strange may be an apt way to describe the findings of Magness and her team, who for the last seven summers have been excavating the remains of a fifth-century synagogue from the ancient village
of Huqoq in the hills northwest of the Sea of Galilee. That the scientists and historians have uncovered intricate mosaic floors decorating the late Roman building was surprising enough, Magness told the crowd at Pitt, who had gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Cathedral’s Israel Heritage Room. But the subjects and details of those mosaics may turn on their head long-held assumptions about Jewish communities in the land of Israel following the rise of Christianity. Magness holds a senior endowed chair in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the president of the Archaeological Institute of America. She and her team, which includes biblical scholars and art historians, is working to figure out what could have been going on in the Jewish community of Huqoq during a time when Christianity had
ince last winter, a cohort of Jewish and Muslim women have met in each other’s homes to better understand one another. From the discussions generated, the women have discovered not only obvious differences in religious practices and beliefs, but also surprising similarities in mindsets regarding family, tradition and often politics. The 12 women — six of whom are Jewish, the other half Muslim — have met every four to six weeks, said Malke Frank, a co-founder of the Pittsburgh group that affiliates with Sisterhood Of Salaam Shalom, a national organization committed to building “strong relationships between Muslim and Jewish women based on developing trust and respect and ending antiMuslim and anti-Jewish sentiment.” Each meeting is co-hosted by one Jewish woman and one Muslim woman who collectively create the outline for what will be discussed, explained Frank. The insights derived from the meet-ups have been beneficial for all parties involved, said Julie Webb, co-founder of the Pittsburgh affiliate. “With each meeting, the women have felt more comfortable coming together,” said Frank. “Knowing your Muslim and Jewish neighbors is the first step toward understanding and respecting them,” added Webb. Since forming, the group has held several programs and potlucks. The varied formats present new opportunities to share and learn from one another, said the organizers. “Just the environment when you meet these people you learn something new, not just in terms of religion, but these are wonderful women who are making a difference,” said Abeera Batool, a group member. Last month, Batool was one of 600 Muslim and Jewish women who gathered together for the SOSS annual leadership conference, which was held at Drew University
Please see Huqoq, page 16
Please see Salaam, page 16
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