The Art and Architecture portion of the 2004 New Jersey Scholars Program's Jerusalem and the Middle East was a course designed to create an atmosphere for students to acquire the history of Middle Eastern art and architecture on the basis of informative and interesting conversations and readings. Religious, commemorative, residential, military, palatial, commercial, and urban settings were surveyed from the early settlements in Jerusalem and Mesopotamia (6000-1000 BCE) and the beginning of Islam in 7th century Arabia to the Twentieth century and recent times. The survey followed primarily a dynastic chronology with emphasis on important patrons, great thinkers, and designers. Throughout the course, selected examples of religious and secular buildings were analyzed and their architectural, urban, and stylistic characteristics were examined in conjunction with their historical and sociopolitical settings. In my lectures I attempted to relate social issues to Islamic architectural theory and practice in several Middle Eastern countries as well as the United States, bringing them into relationship with the skills, thinking, and heritage of architecture. During the seminars students had the opportunity to discuss the readings and the images, and to raise questions, generate debates, and exchange

ideas with fellow students. Most scholars had the ability to learn and to be open to ideas that were new to them. They did not solely contribute in the classroom. They were energetic and were present in every aspect of this summers activities ranging from the arts festival to soccer and other group activities. For Some scholars, however, the program was a bit challenging on

all levels. I truly appreciate their constant efforts in adjusting their life style and improving their learning abilities. In addition, we had a scheduled visit to a New York City mosque and The Jewish Museum. Thanks to the New Jersey Scholars Program that created a rich and varied educational environment for the study of Islamic architecture and art. I believe that the New Jersey Scholars Program is a place where the individual creativity of a student can be cultivated and nurtured in a framework of values that is humanistically, socially, and environmentally responsible. The New Jersey Scholars Program supported us well not only in regular and primary needs, but in finding materials for the art projects and much more.

Rebecca Charney: Iranian Cinema and its impact on the Social Fabric of Today's

Iran

Mauricio Cruz: A Comparative Analysis of Mayan and Ancient Middle Eastern

Architecture: An Interpretation of Symbolic and Religious Similarities

Sophia Greenhouse: A Comparative Analysis of Political Propaganda in Iran and

Iraq During their Eight Years of War

Meng Jiao: The Crusader Period and the Birth of New Types of Architecture in the

Middle East

Cameron LIoyd: The Tenets of Muslim Faith and their Effects on the Development

of Mosque Architecture

Katherine O'Neill: Al-Mansur and Saddam Hussein: A Study of Architecture and

Propaganda in Baghdad Throughout the History

Eugene Rusyn: The Two Walls in Jerusalem: A Comparative Analysis of the Western

Wall and the Recently Created Israeli Security Wall

Andrew Shen: The Life of Hagia Sophia, From Constantinople to Modern day Turkey

Rebecca Shlien: A Study of the Female Body in Orientalist Art: Fantasy or

Reality?

Maura Tappen: A Look at the Depiction of Veil in Contemporary Media

The objective of the history program was to review the regions history along chronological as well as thematic lines. Thus, we began by covering the history of the various Islamic polities from the 7^th century to collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1919. In addition, we put strong emphasis on the history of Zionism and the emergence of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Alongside the chronological aspect we examined a series of topics such as interfaith relationship and religious tolerance, global trade and economics, the rise of the Nation-State, Imperialism and Colonialism, Islamic Fundamentalism and the Peace Process. While we did not focus exclusively on the history of Jerusalem, naturally, it was the place that brought many of our discussions to focus. Over the course of the program the students had the opportunity to discuss and research some of the most crucial historical factors that shaped the Middle East as we know it today.

Lisa Adler: The Zionist Revival in American Jewish Identity 1967-1977

Titan Alon: Israeli Civil-Militarism: From Inception to Ideology

M. S. Elatab: How Does the Intellectual History of Zionism Compare With That of Other Nationalistic Movements in the Late 19^th Century and Early 20^th Century Europe? What Fascist Characteristics, if Any, Can Be Discerned in the Zionist Leadership?

Sherif Farrag: What Exactly Were the Origins of President Nassers Decision to Nationalize the Suez Canal? What Were the British, French, and American Reactions to This Revolutionary Event?

Lee H. Hofrichter: The Palestinian Nationalistic Identity: Re-Oriented

Kathryn Hartmann: Herzl: Father of Zionism or Just Skilled Consolidator? An Analysis of the Information and Ideology of Herzl Through His Work, The Jewish State

Joshua Matthew: The Historical Origins of the Islamic Revival in Egypt

Artem Shnayder: Direct and Indirect Causes of the Soviet Jewry Emigration from the Soviet Union in the 1970’s

Aniket Shah: While Analyzing the Geniza Documents as well as other secondary sources, why did the Fatimid Dynasty excel so much economically and what affect did this have on the socio-economic condition of the middle class citizen of the Empire?

Shaunak Vankudre: An Examination of Egyptian Intellectual and Political Responses to the Abolition of the Caliphate, 1922-1926

This portion of the program focused on the role of literature in shaping the national identity of both Palestinians and Israelis. The students read some key modern Palestinian and Israeli writers who came from various literary traditions. Through intensive seminar discussions, the students discerned the similarities and differences between the experiences of those writers and their modes of expression. With the help of such literary examples, the students were able to put a human face on the struggle, and see the great range of diversity in the cultures of the Middle East. As demonstrated by the students research papers, they managed to transfer the skills learned in one discipline to another, and they engaged the theory in a very competent manner. They saw literature as a serious weapon in such a political struggle.

Michael Baumstein: Islamic Literature and Its Influence on Dantes Inferno: Quran, Isra and Miraj

Arti Kotadia: Orientalism in Business Etiquette Manuals

Sarah Ramteke: Common Themes in the Sufi Poetry of Hafiz and Rumi

Jay Thornton: Shared Sentiments: A Comparison of Mahmoud Darwish and W.B. Yeats

Thomas Salem Manganaro: Said and Lewis: A Historical Muck-Up

Odette Rodrigues: The Portrayal of Jesus and Mary in Islam and Catholicism

Julia Verlaine: Lost in Translation: The Comparison of Two Varying Texts of Al-Jabarti’s History of Egypt During the Napoleonic Expedition

Yihsin Wang: Body Image of Women in Islam: The Past and Their Revolution Through Literature

Michael Zuckerman: Slit Lips: Literature of Resistance and ‘National Allegory’ in the Palestinian Canon

Our New Jersey Scholars Summer 2004 study of Religion began with an exploration of various methods of study employed by scholars. From the Perennial Philosophical point of view to secular approaches focusing on society and psychology, sacred scriptures and rituals appear in different lights. Despite the multiple points of view available to the Religion scholar, Karen Armstrong affirms that human beings by nature are homo religiosus. In other words, just as human beings always have created art or music, the construction of meaning and associated rituals is also innate. Professor Jonathan Z. Smith's definition of Religion is neither too broad (like a "world view") or too narrow ("like a belief in God") rather religions are "systems of beliefs and practices that connect us to superhuman beings or powers". After an introduction to the study itself, students were introduced to the various conceptions of theism encountered in the study of the Middle East (henotheism, monotheism, polytheism, etc.). Rituals focused on blood sacrifice and the essential practices of Judaism, Christianity and Islam were explored. The intrareligious tensions in all three faiths between reformers and traditionalists as well as a historical overview of the term "fundamentalist" helped to give the scholars some semblance of barrings when encountering the multitude of religious expression within each of the three major Abrahamic faiths. Finally, we concluded our study with an examination of Diana Eck's work on "exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism" for how people dialogue across faiths in the future will determine the quality of our future.

1. Kelly Dougherty: "How is the portrayal of women in the Hebrew Bible different from that in the Qur'an and how does the interpretation of these scriptures vary?"1. Janis Rogers: "The Rock" How was the mythology surrounding The Rock on the Temple Mount affected by political and economic influences in addition to religious claims?

2. Emily Kehrt: "Clearing Her Name: Mary Magdalene and the Gnositic Gospels" How do the texts of the Gnostic Gospels redefine the Christian image of Mary Magdalene?

3. Nauf Latef: "Never Too Late to Seek Divine Mercy: A Catholic and Islamic Perspective" How have Muslim beliefs in the afterlife influenced Catholic beliefs in purgatory?

4. Daniel Rubin: "Contested Holiness: The Eye of the Storm" How do Jewish extremist groups committed to the rebuilding the Third Temple and the destruction of the Dome of the Rock interpret the history of the Temple Mount?

5. Jason Richards: "A Look into the Significance of Messianic Figures" What has been the historical and religious significance of messianic figures, such as Simon bar Kochba?

6. Allison Russo: "Mary and the Gospels" What is the history of the Gnostic Gospels and how have these texts influenced the character of Mary Magdalene when compared to her role in New Testament scriptures?

7. Elan Shpigel: "Ancient Hatreds: The Religious Roots of the Conflict in the Middle East" How have recent interpretations of holy texts connected to the fundamentalist revivalism engulfing Israel/Palestine in the last few decades?

8. Gabreilla Wertman: "Religion: The Forgotten Aspect of Islamic Success" What role did the teaching of Tawhid play in the success of the Muslim ummah during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime?

9. Christine Zhang: "Shedding the Illusion: Interpreting Muhammad's Relationship with the Jews" How does the increasingly religious present-day Israeli-Palestinian conflict affect the way Jews and Muslims interpret Muhammad's relationship with the Jews of Medina, and what is the correct way to interpret this complex relationship?