The New York Council for the Humanities has announced its new lecture offerings for the year. Amongst the religion ones is this:

Sanctuary, Temple and Synagogue

An illustrated lecture about the origin of the synagogue, and its decorative arts; an institution and practice whose roots can be traced back to the Biblical traditions of the "sanctuary" (miskan), also known as the Tabernacle, and the permanent "house" (bayit), or temple (miqdas), of the God of Israel.

Special attention will be given to the artistic motifs unearthed in the ancient synagogues of Israel, structures primarily datable to the Byzantine period (4th - 7th centuries C.E.). The synagogues and their art can be seen as the culmination of a long process of development, whose roots lie in the Hellenistic era (3rd - 1st centuries B.C.E.).

This lecture is available from December 1, 2007 to December 1, 2010. Prof. Stieglitz is Professor of Hebraic Studies and Archaeology at Rutgers University in Newark.

This is how to apply to host a lecture. The Council funds the lectures. Any NFP organization can apply.