Synagogue

• Synagogue


  A special place to worship God, to study the word of God (hence also called shul)
• Synagogue


  • Jews have always had a 'special place' to worship: Moses built a Tabernacle, Solomon built a Temple. The last temple was destroyed in Jerusalem in 70 CE. Away from Jerusalem, Jews worship in synagogues representative of that one Temple
• Synagogue


  Means 'bringing together' emphasising community worship of God
• Synagogue


  • It is a house of worship - a place for specific prayers to be said. A minyan (ten members) must be present for worship to take place
  • Has a community use and links the faith now to Jewish history and traditions
• Outside of synagogue


  • The star of David (five-pointed star) symbol and the menorah (seven branched candlestick)
• Inside of synagogue


  • Aron hakodesh - ark of the covenant housing the Torah and other scrolls. Represents the Holy of Holies, the most sacred part of the Temple and before it the Tabernacle. A cupboard in the eastern wall facing Jerusalem covered by a curtain (parokhet) to safeguard and glorify its contents. Lions of Judah holding the Ten Commandments are above it
  • Ner tamid-represents the ever-burning lamp in the Tabernacle showing the Torah should always have meaning - a light in the world's darkness. Traditionally an oil lamp it is seen as a symbol of Israel as the 'light of nations'
  • Bimah-raised platform where the Sefer Torah is read from. It represents the
• Dress in synagogue


  • Orthodox males wearing kippah, tallit and tefillin; whereas Reform Jews usually just kippah
• People in synagogue


  • The rabbi is the spiritual leader - a learned man of scripture and law who has attended Yeshivah - Reform allows women to hold this role too
  • The cantor sings prayers and often leads worship
• Differences in synagogue names

  • Orthodox use the name 'shul', Reform use 'temple and Masorti use 'synagogue'
• Seating in synagogue


  • Orthodox - women sit separately, all face the Bimah which is central to the room; Reform - all sit together, all face the Ark and Bimah at the front of the room
• Public acts of worship

  • It forms part of the covenant, is a mitzvot and so a duty
  • It keeps people mindful of God and shows their devotion
  • It shows God worship and praise
  • It brings the community together
• Structure of synagogue worship

  1. Centred around different prayers from the siddur (prayer book) and chamash (printed Torah)

  2. Key prayers are the Shema, the Amidah, the Kaddish and Aleinu

  3. On Shabbat, both Torah and prophecies will be read
• Synagogue worship


  • Shabbat services
  • Daily services
  • Festivals
  • Rites of passage
  • Study
  • Holocaust memorials
• Home worship


  • Shabbat meals and prayers
  • Study
  • Circumcisions
  • Variety of prayer and thanksgivings