Evolution of the synagogue

"Nine prominent scholars and researchers into rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity investigate the literary and archaeological evidence by which the evolution of the synagogue can be traced. The contributions fall into two groupings: (1) those concerned with the development of the synagogue in the land of ancient Israel and (2) analyses of the diverse and abundant evidence from synagogues in the dispersion, especially Syria and Asia Minor. Also included is an examination of the literary and traditional evidence from historical, rabbinic, and early Christian sources."--BOOK JACKET.