Dr. Jerrilynn D. Dodds — Beyond Tolerance: Religious Coexistence in Medieval History
Scholar Jerrilynn Dodds examines religious coexistence, cultural exchange, and the limits of tolerance in medieval Spain and beyond.
Why we picked this
Medieval convivencia sounds like ancient history until you realize the questions it raises about coexistence are exactly the ones we are still failing to answer.
Dr. Jerrilynn D. Dodds examines the complex realities behind the idea of medieval religious tolerance, pushing past romanticized narratives to explore how Christians, Muslims, and Jews actually lived alongside one another in medieval Spain and the broader Mediterranean world.
Dodds is a scholar of medieval art and architecture whose work has consistently challenged simple stories about interfaith relations. Her research reveals both the genuine cultural exchange that occurred and the limits and conditions under which tolerance operated — a history that resonates sharply with contemporary debates.
The lecture at Temple Emanu-El is free and available both in person and virtually.