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A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It has a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, choir performances, and children's plays.
May 21, 2024 · Learn about the origin, functions, and architecture of synagogues, the Jewish community houses of worship. Find out how synagogues evolved from ancient times to modern days and how they reflect Jewish values and traditions.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
A synagogue is a place of Jewish worship. In addition to housing a sanctuary for services, synagogues often serve as the centerpoint of Jewish life. What Does Synagogue Mean? The word “synagogue” is the Greek parallel to the Hebrew term beit knesset, “house of gathering.”
- A Synagogue Is a Place for Prayer. The primary function of the synagogue is to serve as a place for prayer. Although you can speak to G‑d in private, praying in the synagogue is considered preferable, and prayers said as part of a congregation are more readily heard on high.
- It is Also Known as a Beit Knesset, Shul, or Shtiebel. Art by Zalman Kleinman | Courtesy Rosa Kleinman | Via Zev Markowitz / Chai Art Gallery. The original Hebrew term for synagogue is beit knesset, which means“house of gathering.”
- They Are Open on Shabbat—and Throughout the Week. Three daily prayers are held in the synagogue. On Shabbat and festivals, a fourth prayer is added, while on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, the number is hiked up to five.
- They Are Centers of Jewish Life. A first-grader displays his project after learning how and where a Torah is kept. In addition to housing a sanctuary for services, synagogues (most notably Chabad centers) serve as a centerpoint of Jewish life.
The synagogue is the center of the Jewish religious community: a place of prayer, study and education, social and charitable work, as well as a social center.
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As the role of the synagogue has expanded, especially in North America, the education of children and adults has become a more pronounced function. A new position, Director of Education, has emerged, with responsibility for formal and informal Jewish educational programs for children and youth.
Learn about the origin, development, and significance of the synagogue, the central institution of Judaism. Explore the synagogues of Palestine, Babylonia, Spain, Islam, and other regions and periods.
