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• Four importances of the synagogue:

  • worship and prayer
  • education
  • social activities
  • charitable events
• Explain worship and prayer in the synagogue

  • have classes for learning hebrew
  • can help young people prepare for their Bar and Bat Mitszvah
• Explain social activities in the synagogue:

  • have a social hall
  • have youth clubs, music, drama, sports groups for senior citizens to meet
• Explain education in the synagogue:

  • provides a house of study (Beit Midrash)
  • most synagogues have a well stocked library to enable adults to improve knowledge
• Explain charitable events in the synagogue

  • social hall provides venues for collecting money or items
  • they support chaarities (e.g world Jewish relief, often during natural disasters)
• Different parts of a synagogue:

  • prayer hall
  • Aron Hakodesh (Holy ark)
  • bimah (reading platform)
  • ner tamid
• Tallit:

  • Orthodox men wear it during morning prayers
  • Reform men and women wear it during morning prayers
  • reminds Jews they are obeying God
  • white with blue/black stripes
• Tefillin:

  • pair of black leather boxes (phylacteries) containing passages of scripture, and words of the Shema
  • fastened with leather straps to the forehead and the upper arm, aligned with the heart
  • reminds Jews during prayer that their concentration should be on God and prayers should be completely from the heart
• Shabbat: Jewish holy day of the week, a day of rest from Friday to Saturday sunset
• The three Jewish sacred scriptures: (TeNaKh)

  • Te (torah, law)
  • Na (Nev'im, prophets)
  • Kh (Ketuvim, writings)
• Talmud:  a collection of teachings and discussions from early rabbis about the Torah relating to modern issues by interpreting laws of the Torah
• Two parts of the Talmud:

  • mishnah
  • gemara
• Mishnah (part of the Talmud): writings of the oral law so that it could not be misinterpreted in the future, explains how to apply and follow the mitzvot
• Gemara (part of the Talmud): collection of discussions and comments relating to the Mishnah
• Torah means law
• Nev'im means prophets
• Ketuvim means writings
• Te (Torah, law):

  • containts 613 mitzvot
  • has history of Jewish people from the creation of Exodus to the death of Moses
• Na (Nev'im, prophets):

  • eight books tracing Jewish history
  • has books such as Joshua, Judges, Isaiah, Jeremiah
• Kh (ketuvim, writings):

  • express thoughts of ultimate questions
  • eleven books of history, poetry (Psalms), philosophy, advice
• The synagogue is faced in the direction of the Ark to be reminded of Jerusalems second temple that was destroyed by the Romans
• holy ark (Aron Hakodesh):

  • ornamental cabinet keeping the Torah
  • set to the wall facing Jerusalem
  • reached by climbing steps
  • two stone tables placed above which are the start of the 10 commandments
• Aron Hakodesh quote:

  "He brought the ark inside the Tabernacle. Then he put up the curtain for screening, and screened of the Ark of the Pact - just as the Lord had commanded Moses" Exodus
• Aron Hakodesh quote:

  "He brought the ark inside the Tabernacle. Then he put up the curtain for screening, and screened of the Ark of the Pact - just as the Lord had commanded Moses" Exodus
• Ner Tamid:

  • originally an oil lamp but now used by electric lights incase of a power cut
  • symbolises God's eternal presence
  • a reminder of the Menorah that was lit every night in the Temple of Jerusalem
• Bimah:

  • raised platform in the centre
  • used when reading the Torah by the reader
  • makes it easier for the congregation to hear
• prayer hall:

  • contains seats and the Holy Ark
  • seats for the Rabbi and a Pulpit from where sermons are delivered and a seat for the Chazzan
  • it's where Jews gather as a community for worship and prayer
• Orthodox Jews:

  • traditional branch
  • the Torah was directly given to Moses by God, so it should be followed strictly
  • men and women have different roles (e.g only men can be rabbis)
  • men and women sit separately so they don't get distracted
  • Jews come any time for service
  • men wear a kippah and married women cover their heads by wearing a hat or scarf to show respect and fear
  • services are in hebrew and have silent singing
• Reform Jews:

  • progressive branch
  • the Torah was inspired by God but written by humans so it can be adapted to modern times
  • men and women can undertake the same roles
  • sit together for equality
  • shorter services that start at the same time
  • most wear headcovering
  • services can be in the home language and have singing with instruments
• Tefillin quote:

  "In order that the Teaching of the Lord may be in your mouth" Exodus
• Tefillin quote:

  "In order that the Teaching of the Lord may be in your mouth" Exodus
• Why Jews pray:

  • vital for communication with God
  • formal prayer in the Synagogue strengthens a sense of community
  • reinforces their health and faith
  • helps focus their minds, hearts, and soul
• Format of Jewish services:

  • opening prayers
  • Shema
  • Amidah
  • Final prayers
• Shabbat quote:

  "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy" Exodus
• Shabbat quote:

  "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy" Exodus
• Amidah (standing prayer):

  • the first three blessings praise God
  • the middle thirteen are prayers of intercession and petition
  • the final three blessings thank God
  • has a final closing prayer, called Aleinu prayer
• Shabbat in the synaagogue:

  • congregation stands when the Ark is opened to reveal the Torah
  • Torah is taken from the Ark and dressed with a cover and ornaments
  • held in front of the congregation while verses are chanted and paraded around the Synagogue
  • when the Torah is passed around, Jews touch it with their prayer book / tassels on their shawl and touch their lips
• In shabbat, why does the congregation stand when the Ark is opened?

  it's a reminder of how Israelites stood beneath mount sinai when Moses returned with the 10 commandments
• In shabbat, why do they dress the Torah with ornaments?

  reminds Jews of the vestments worn by priests in early Judaism
• In shabbat, why is the Ark held while chanting verses and parading it around the Synagogue?

  represents the march through wilderness of when Jews carried the Ark and 10 commandments from mount sinai to Jerusalem

  it is also an opportunity for Jews to be close to the Torah and God for thanks