Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: identify the key components of the synagogue, understanding their symbolism/significance and when they entered the architectural vernacular of Jewish worship; consider the evolution of the synagogue from its earliest examples in the ancient world to the contemporary realm; examine how the elements of the European synagogue expanded into synagogue design in the Americas; and situate the entirety of this evolution within the historical context of each era, noting in many cases the resilience of the Jewish population to define their space of worship despite persistent repression, expulsion, or attack.