"study house." Synagogues are sanctified locations used for prayer, Tanakh (the complete Hebrew Bible, including the Torah) reading, study, and assembly. A synagogue, on the other hand, is not required for Jewish worship. There are several hundred synagogues in Israel today; many more existed in ancient times. "place of worship." Although a synagogue does not have to be built according to strict Jewish law, it is impractical for most communities to construct buildings without any form of financial support from outside sources or government subsidies. Thus, most modern synagogues are constructed with this use in mind. "centre of Jewish life." In addition to being places of religious practice, synagogues play an important role in Jewish society. They provide a center for communal activity such as meetings, classes, and activities for children and adults alike. Many also have kosher kitchens that are open to the public daily. This is especially true in larger cities where there may be only one other synagogue in the area. --- "a house of God". The Hebrew term for "synagogue" is "shul", which means "a gathering together" or "a congregation". As such, a synagogue is a place where Jews come together to pray, learn, celebrate festivals, and conduct business. It is here that they interact with each other and with their rabbi.