The ICJS again offered two Mini-Courses during the 1999-2000 programming year. This past Fall, Dr. Rosann Catalano was joined by Rabbi David Sandmel to teach the course, Biblical Israel, Rabbinic Judaism, and Christianity: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Exploration. For five consecutive weeks, ap-proximately one hundred friends and members of the Institute met at Beth El Congregation to study the emergence of Rab-binic Judaism and Christianity in first-century, Common Era Palestine.

In Spring 2000, Dr. Catalano taught a course entitled Praying at the Edge: Suffering, The Psalms of Lament, and God. Approximately seventy-five participants met for five weeks at The Center for Continuing Formation, St. Mary's Seminary & University to study the psalms of lament and the remarkable ways in which these ancient biblical prayers give expression to the mystery of human suffering. The ICJS is grateful to the Baltimore Chapter, American Jewish Committee, and to Lois Rosenfield, Executive Director, for collaborating with us on the Spring Mini-Course.

The Institute has asked Janis Koch, a long-time supporter of the ICJS to reflect on her experience of taking the Fall Mini-Course for a second time. And we have asked Jane Buxton Brown and Arthur Magida to offer brief reflections on their experience of the Spring Mini-Course.