The four canonical Gospels describe the synagogues of the Land of Israel as the primary locus of the public activities of Jesus of Nazareth. Despite the prominence of synagogues in the extant accounts of Jesus’ life and career, academic research on early synagogues has not yet played a significant role in the study of the historical Jesus. This project incorporates the findings of recent research on ancient synagogues into the study of the historical Jesus. So doing helps to recover a piece of Jesus’ early Jewish context that has been frequently neglected or misunderstood in previous scholarship. This thesis has two related goals. The first is to contextualize Jesus’ activities in synagogues in light of current research on ancient synagogues. The second is to determine the role that the institution of the synagogue played in the aims of Jesus. I argue that the evidence indicates that the synagogue was intrinsic rather than incidental to Jesus’ mission, and that it was both the vehicle and the means by which he intended to realize his aim of the restoration of Israel. The historical investigation in this project helps to clarify our understanding of Jesus’ mission and also helps us to better understand the data involving synagogues in the Gospels. My examination of the evidence finds that the narratives involving synagogues in the Gospels accurately reflect an ancient synagogue setting, and can be better understood in light of current scholarship on synagogues. This speaks in favour of the historical plausibility of these narratives, and highlights the importance of the institutional setting of the synagogue for the interpretation of this data. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The four canonical Gospels describe the synagogues of the Land of Israel as the primary locus of the public activities of Jesus of Nazareth. Despite the prominence of synagogues in the accounts of Jesus’ life and career, academic research on early synagogues has not yet played a significant role in the study of the historical Jesus. This project has two related goals. The first is to contextualize Jesus’ activities in synagogues in light of current research on ancient synagogues. The second is to determine the role that the institution of the synagogue played in the aims of Jesus. I argue that the evidence indicates that the synagogue was intrinsic rather than incidental to Jesus’ mission, and that it was both the vehicle and the means by which he intended to realize his aim of the restoration of Israel.

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of comparing the medieval musical traditions of two of the world's most influential religions. The similarities are discussed in two major categories: the comparison of liturgical texts and ritual, and the comparison of the music appearing in each ritual. This study has one main purpose. That purpose is to demonstrate how, through musical traditions, each religion has developed through the influence of the other. Samples of the liturgies from the musical portions of the services were obtained from prayer books and references dealing with those religions. Investigations of English translations from the Latin and Hebrew revealed a close identity between the two, not only in scriptural uses, but also in prayers and responses. Musical examples demonstrating similar elements in Hebrew and Christian worship were found in the extensive research of A. Z. Idelsohn and Eric Werner. Due to the dispersal of world Jewry, the best examples of Hebrew medieval music were obtained from the most isolated Jewish communities, such as those of Yemen, Musical similarities included modes, melodic formulas, and hymns and songs. This report concludes that the musical portions of the services of Christianity and Judaism in the Middle Ages were strikingly similar, and their subsequent musical development was strongly influenced by their coexistence.

The main target of my diploma thesis is a new synanogue for Jewish village in Olomouc, which is suggested to the place of the original synagogue that was burnt down in the year 1939. The requirement of the assignment for the new synagogue and also a connected seat for the Jewish village in Olomouc with connected operations a place for museum of Jewish cultures. The Jewish village in Olomouc is of rather closed character. The target was to created a complex with connection of areas closed to the village members and opened for the public. Based on the ideas, a complex of three buildings was established and their mapping out suits perfectly to the basic principle. The objects in the area are situated in order to their basic function can be supported. The synagogue together with the Jewish village are very closely directed into calmer, easwest part of the area. Against to this place is a muzeum, designed by the street tř. Svobody, which is also very frequented pedestrian connecting line. From this chosen mapping builds a public area with connection to a park. The complex include a kosher restaurant, administrative place, library, ritual bath mikve and private morespaced area for the village activities.

The presented diploma thesis was elaborated as an architectural study of a new synagogue in Olomouc according to the assignment. The goal of the thesis was to design the architectural proposal of the synagogue as well as of the new centre for the Jewish community and Jewish museum. The final proposal is two buildings connected by a courtyard. The synagogue is designed on the same place where the original synagogue stood. Part of the building for Jewish community is mikveh ritual bath, kosher restaurant, community hall, library and offices. The Jewish museum is partially recessed below ground level and covers an area beneath the synagogue and the courtyard. Shielding the building from the bustling Avenue is solved with park proposal. The entrance to the underground garage with 32 parking spaces is from the street Lafayettova.

The presented diploma thesis was elaborated as an architectural study of a new synagogue in Olomouc according to the assignment. The goal of the project was to design a synagogue, new place for the Jewish community of Olomouc and Jewish museum on the site of original burnt synagogue. The concept was based on an effort to restore dialogue between private and public (openness vs. closeness of Jewish community) and to connect the individual functions and create a closed functional unit to fulfil the needs of Jewish community, however, also communicate with the public. The complex contains kosher restaurant, museum of Jewish culture, administration, library, community hall, educational room, kosher grocery store, mikveh the ritual bath, chapel and the garden. The block is divided into three buildings connected each other by colonnade and courtyard which opens to adjacent public square but at the same time is protected from the bustle of the main road.

The diploma subject was to design a new synagogue, jewish community centre and kosher restaurant in Gustav Mahler Park in Jihlava. The new synagogue respects location of the foundations of the former synagogue. The buildings are arranged to create elevated square, where people can rise up to synagogue which was inspired by rising up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Water reflecting pool is designed above the foundations of the former synagogue to create water reflections on the facade and interior of the new synagogue. The new jewish community centre take care of the whole jewish community in Jihlava. The jewish garden in atrium of the jewish community centre serve as a place to celebrate jewish holidays. Kosher restaurant is designed for the public and jewish community in Jihlava and creates atractive place to enjoy free time at Gustav Mahler Park with the view towards historical city walls and the Gate of Holy Mother.

The diploma project handles the design of the synagogue and other buildings of the Jewish community in Jihlava. The project is formed as an architectural study. Apart from the synagogue, the proposed set of buildings also includes a kosher restaurant, which is characteized by a specific cooking convention, and the administration of a Jewish community with a lecture hall and a community library. The entire complex is complemented by underground parking and the necessary technical facilities. The area is located on the edge of the historical center of Jihlava and the character of the place is strongly determined by the presence of fortifications and fortification greenery. The concept is based on legible urbanism, which copies the line of fortification. Between the proposed building complex and the walls of fortification the park is preserved and valorises the urban potential of the site. The functions are divided into separate objects. A uniform architectural language of simple cubic volumes was chosen for all buildings. The principles of the construction and inner disposition of individual buildings vary according to their characteristics.

The thesis deals with the design of a new synagogue in Opava. The location is defined on the site of a former synagogue near the city behind no longer existing city walls, as was typical for the location of Jewish communities. The site of the original fortification is now largely taken by a strip of urban orchards, with the historic building of the Breda department store as the imaginary ending. The fact that the intended location adjoins these orchards played an important role in the design proposal. Another important factor entering the design proposal was the surrounding block of flats. From these input factors, the concept of arranging the territory was created, resulting in creating a semi-open block towards the green circular belt, in which the solitary building of the new synagogue is located in its central location. The building of the community center completing the existing block of flats forms rather the background for this synagogue. The concept of the synagogue building itself did not result from a particular symbol, but rather from abstraction that I perceive as typical of religious belief, because even the Holy Scripture is merely an interpretation of certain events that everyone can imagine differently when reading or interpreting them. The object of the synagogue is thus levitated in a cloud changing according to the angle of view. It is more or less obvious – is or is not. The overlap of the designed building resides in the further placement of the columns forming the cloud at important points of the city. On the pillars we can find Jewish verses in both languages, which font becomes bright after dark.

Topic of this master thesis is a design of a synagogue together with Jewish community facilities in Trutnov. The thesis is made in the phase of architectural study. Assigned site is located near the historical center of Trutnov. There is a reminder of the old synagogue that was burned out during WW2. There is also newly reconstructed park around it. Main purpose of the proposal is to respect the park with old synagogue and connect both places so anyone can share the experience of reminder of the past together with new function. The designed volume opens towards the street and communicates with the new park with its vast openings. Function of the new building is inspired by the idea of Judaism. It is connected not only with the synagogue but also with communal life, education, celebrations, or art. That is why the proposal is connecting all the functions under one roof and the synagogue is “guarding” all of them from above. The building has three floors. On the lowest floor, there is underground garage. On the ground floor we can find space for Jewish community administration, room for exhibitions, mikveh and kitchen part for the kosher restaurant. The upper floor is mostly terrace. There is only kosher restaurant and synagogue.

The architectural study deals with the design of a new synagogue in Trutnov, located on the site of the original synagogue, which was burned down in 1938 during the so-called Crystal Night. Currently, the area is a place of reverence, as a reminder of this historical event. The concept works with this idea and develops it further by adding other functions of the Jewish community - kosher restaurant, the Jewish community centre, and the mikveh. Due to the site location between two historical neoclassical buildings, the grounds should look humble and non-conflicting. The concept of the site is based on the needs of each individual functional unit and on the historical ties in the area. The concept of the synagogue itself is derived from the history of Jewish culture, its connections and mostly symbolism. Also, the reference to the original burned down synagogue is taken into account.