RE204 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Maimonides, Middle Ages, Mellah
Document Summary
Today in judaism: 6 cheshvan, 5774 am, 4174 am - loss of alexandria. Appreciate the use and importance of ritual space. Note points of difference/similarities between synagogues and other forms of ritual space: synagogue - torah/ark acts as the source of purity, holy of holies. Note points of innovation and continuity: reading of torah and holy arch faces the east (jerusalem) Note the general historical periods and cultural contexts, and their affects: different cultures affected the architectural structure. Isolation and autonomy: middle ages time of varied periods of isolation and autonomy for jewish communities, jewish charters: Covenant-like agreements between jews and non-jewish rulers. Establishing protected settlements in exchange for feudal loyalty and service/payment to the empire. Jewish quarter: enclaves within city where only jews live, voluntarily or involuntarily: ghetto. Ghettos in italy managed by popes: mellah. Muslim equivalent - first in morocco: shtetl (shtot) little town, started in 12th century.
