In November 1999, the ICJS sponsored a three-part lecture series entitled "Ancient Treasures, Modern Scripts," honoring Board Member Peter W. Culman on the occasion of his retirement as Managing Director of Center Stage, a regional theater in Baltimore. Some of the area's most gifted teachers and preachers explored the spiritual significance of three great biblical figures for our respective communities.

Rabbi Joel H. Zaiman, Senior Rabbi, Chizuk Amuno Congre-gation, and Reverend Flo Ledyard, Associate Faculty, College of Preachers, Washington, D.C., spoke on the struggles of Moses. Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, Senior Rabbi, Beth Tfiloh, and The Reverend Robert F. Leavitt, President of St. Mary's Sem-inary & University, addressed the figure of the Messiah. Rabbi Marc Margolius, Congregation Beth Am Israel, Philadelphia, and The Reverend Michael Curry, then Senior Pastor, St. James Episcopal Church, explored the anguish of Jonah. Chizuk Amuno Congregation hosted the series, which drew several hundred people.

The Institute asked Peter Culman and Peter Whedbee to re-flect on the event.