The synagogue is the center of Jewish religious life. At a minimum, it is the place where Jews come together for community prayer. In addition, it is usually the place where children receive their religious education.
Most synagogues have a social hall for religious and non-religious functions.
This was the one and only place where sacrifices and certain other religious rituals were performed. It was partially destroyed at the time of the Babylonian Exile and rebuilt. The rebuilt temple was known as the Second Temple. The famous Wailing Wall is the western retaining wall of that Temple, and is as close to the site of the original Sanctuary as Jews can go today. The site of The Temple is currently occupied by a Moslem Mosque, the Dome of the Rock.