Professor Jodi Magness, President of the Archaeological Institute of America, the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a world-renowned archaeologist, wowed a packed lecture room at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) on Wednesday night. Professor Magness, who has been involved in over 20 excavations in Israel and Greece, showed how easy it can be to take archaeological evidence and misinterpret its meaning. Homing in on one synagogue excavation in particular, she gave the example of a motif that had been interpreted as being Helios, the Greek god of the sun. However, under closer examination, it is more likely to have actually symbolised the angel Metatron: Metatron, mentioned in the gemara, is the highest angel who is said to sit next to God in heaven.
Professor Magness, who was brought to LSJS in conjunction with the Anglo Israel Archeological Association, also touched on the history of the ancient synagogue and its emergence at the time of the second Beit HaMikdash in the 1st century, and alongside the emergence of the Christian Monolithic Church in the 4th century.
Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum, Dean of LSJS said, “We were so privileged to have Professor Magness at LSJS; what a brilliant academic and fabulous lecturer! If you love archaeology and ancient Israel, you won’t want to miss a course at LSJS starting next week, “Aphrodite and the Rabbis” with Rabbi Barry Kleinberg, which will explore how Jewish and Roman culture both collided and co-existed. For more information about this course and to book click here or call the LSJS office on 020 8203 6427.”
