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Lee I. Levine has written a monumental work on the history of the synagogue. Examining its history in Greco-Roman and Byzantine periods in Palestine and the Diaspora, he describes the synagogue: its physical remains; its role in the community; its leadership; the roles of rabbis, Patriarchs, wormen, and priests in its operation; its liturgy; and its art. Levine makes use of archaeological evidence, rabbinic material, the New Testament, Jewish writings of the Second Temple period, and Christian and pagan works to trace the development of the synagogue from an institution with a primarily communal purpose to one that had a distinctly religious character. As an institution, the synagogue not only played a central role in Judaism, but also left its mark on Christianity and Islam, and Levine provides a comprehensive and fascinating history of its first thousand years. Lee I. Levine is professor of Jewish history and archaeology at the Hebrew University.
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