Synagogues in the Islamic World

Explores the design and development of synagogues in the Islamic world

This beautifully illustrated volume looks at the spaces created by and for Jews in areas under the political or religious control of Muslims. Covering regions as diverse as Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, it asks how the architecture of synagogues responded to contextual issues and traditions, and how these contexts influenced the design and evolution of synagogues. As well as revealing how synagogues reflect the culture of the Jewish minority at macro and micro scales, from the city to the interior, the book also considers patterns of the development of synagogues in urban contexts and in connection with urban elements and monuments.

Key Features:

• Uniquely explores the elements and concepts applied in the design of synagogues in the Islamic world
• Shows connections between Jewish and Islamic architecture and the collaboration among Muslims and Jews in the design and construction of synagogues
• Takes an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach, providing a new setting for the analysis of Islamic architecture
• Addresses historical, social, urban, and architectural aspects of synagogues throughout the Muslim world including Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco, Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran, and India

Contributors

• Meltem Özkan Altınöz, Karabük University
• Michelle Huntingford Craig, Getty Research Institute
• Arlene Dallalfar, Lesley University
• Reuven Firestone, Hebrew Union College (Los Angeles) and University of Southern California
• Daniel Muñoz-Garrido, University of Granada
• Anat Geva, Texas A&M University
• Mohammad Gharipour, Morgan State University
• Ulrike-Christiane Lintz, University of Amsterdam
• Vivian B. Mann, Jewish Theological Seminary and The Jewish Museum
• Nesrine Mansour, Texas A&M University
• Susan Gilson Miller, University of California, Davis
• Ann Shafer, State University of New York, Fashion Institute of Technology
• Rabbi M. Mitchell Serels, Berkeley College
• Jay A. Waronker, Academic and Architect
• Ethel Sara Wolper, University of New Hampshire