What are Judaism's places of worship called? | Reference.com What are Judaism's places of worship called? A: Quick Answer In the Jewish faith, a place of worship is called a temple, shul or synagogue. The synagogue is similar to a Christian church. It serves as a social center and as a place to pray and study. It is the center of the religious community. Full Answer The portion of a synagogue where prayer is performed is called the sanctuary, which is designed to face Jerusalem. The Ark is a cabinet that holds the Torah scrolls, which contain the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Orthodox Jewish synagogues, the women are separated from the men and are relegated to an upper balcony or the back of the sanctuary. BBC - Religions - Judaism: The Synagogue The Synagogue Last updated 2009-08-13 This article looks at the Synagogue, the Jewish place of worship, and examines how the congregation conduct themselves, the sacred items and ceremonies. On this page Synagogue layout and services Inside the synagogue The synagogue is the Jewish place of worship, but is also used as a place to study, and often as a community centre as well.

Orthodox Jews often use the Yiddish word shul (pronounced shool) to refer to their synagogue. In the USA, synagogues are often called temples. Segregation In Orthodox synagogues men and women sit separately, and everyone (except young girls) has their head covered. In a Reform synagogue men and women can sit together. The service Synagogue services can be led by a rabbi, a cantor or a member of the congregation. Traditional Jewish worship requires a minyan (a quorum of ten adult males) to take place. In an Orthodox synagogue the service will be conducted in ancient Hebrew, and the singing will be unaccompanied. Few British synagogues now have a choir, but they are more common in the USA. In a progressive (Reform, Liberal) synagogue the service will be at least partly in English, there may a choir and instruments, and men and women can sit together. Clothing during worship Hats and prayer shawls Everyone except unmarried women wears a hat in synagogue in order to show reverence to God. (And once unmarried women pass a certain age they usually wear a hat too.) Jewish men always wear hats when they are saying prayers which mention God's name.

Observant Jewish men wear a hat almost all the time. The most common hat for men in the synagogue is a small round cap called a yarmulke (Yiddish) or a kippah (Hebrew), but an ordinary homburg or street hat will be accepted. Hats are always available for visitors, but a hair grip comes in handy to keep a kippah on. Adult men (i.e. those over the age of 13) often wear a Tallit or prayer shawl for morning prayer. A Tallit has fringes (called tzitzit) on the edges to remind the wearer to observe God's commandments - as commanded by God in the Bible. Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.

Numbers 15:38-40 There are several times in synagogue services when people kiss these fringes - for example when the tzitzit are mentioned. Sacred items and ceremonies The Ark and the Torah Every synagogue contains an Ark, which is a cupboard where the Torah Scrolls, which contain the text of the Hebrew Bible, are kept, and a desk from which to read the Torah. The Hebrew words of the Ten Commandments are usually written somewhere above the ark. The Ark is named after the wooden chest which held the stone tablets of the Covenant that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. The search for that original Ark formed the plot of the movie Raiders Of The Lost Ark. The Eternal Light An Eternal Light (called Ner Tamid) hangs above the Ark. This light is always burning, as a symbol of God's presence. It also represents the pillar of fire that guided the Jewish people on their early journey. Reading from the Torah The platform and the desk for Torah readings are called the Bimah (pronounced beemar), and in an Orthodox synagogue are in the centre of the building.

(In a Reform synagogue, the Bimah is usually close to the Ark.) At the proper moment in the service the Ark is ceremonially opened, and the Torah scroll is carried in procession to the reading desk, unrolled to the reading chosen for the day and laid on the reading desk. It is normal for everyone to stand whenever the doors of the ark are open. What is a Jewish place of worship called? | Reference.com What is a Jewish place of worship called? A: Quick Answer People of the Jewish religion practice in synagogues as their official place of worship. Synagogue is a Greek word that means "assembly." Full Answer In addition to worshiping at synagogues, those of the Jewish religion also practice at home. Within Judaism, it is believed that it is not the place of worship that is sacred. Rather, it is what people do while they are within the building that is sacred. Because of this, home plays a large role in where those of the Jewish religion worship. On the Sabbath, the day of rest, many start their day by worshiping while in the comfort of their own homes.

Judaism 101: Synagogues, Shuls and Temples Synagogues, Shuls and Temples  A Jewish "church" is called a synagogue, shul or temple  A synagogue is a place of worship and study, and a "town hall"  Synagogues are run by laypeople and financed by membership dues  There are several important ritual items found in the synagogue  Non-Jews may visit a synagogue, but dress and should behave appropriately  The Temple is the ancient center of Jewish worship where sacrifices were performed The synagogue is the Jewish equivalent of a church, more or less. It 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. What's in a Name? Throughout this site, I have used the word "synagogue," but there are actually several different terms for a Jewish "church," and you can tell a lot about people by the terms they use. The Hebrew term is beit k'nesset (literally, House of Assembly), although you will rarely hear this term used in conversation in English.

The Orthodox and Chasidim typically use the word "shul," which is Yiddish . The word is derived from a German word meaning "school," and emphasizes the synagogue's role as a place of study. Conservative Jews usually use the word "synagogue," which is actually a Greek translation of Beit K'nesset and means "place of assembly" (it's related to the word "synod"). Reform Jews use the word "temple," because they consider every one of their meeting places to be equivalent to, or a replacement for, The Temple in Jerusalem. The use of the word "temple" to describe modern houses of prayer offends some traditional Jews, because it trivializes the importance of The Temple. The word "shul," on the other hand, is unfamiliar to many modern Jews. When in doubt, the word "synagogue" is the best bet, because everyone knows what it means, and I've never known anyone to be offended by it. Functions of a Synagogue At a minimum, a synagogue is a beit tefilah, a house of prayer . It is the place where Jews come together for community prayer services .

Jews can satisfy the obligations of daily prayer by praying anywhere; however, there are certain prayers that can only be said in the presence of a minyan (a quorum of 10 adult men), and tradition teaches that there is more merit to praying with a group than there is in praying alone. The sanctity of the synagogue for this purpose is second only to The Temple . In fact, in rabbinical literature, the synagogue is sometimes referred to as the "little Temple." A synagogue is usually also a beit midrash, a house of study. Contrary to popular belief, Jewish education does not end at the age of bar mitzvah . For the observant Jew, the study of sacred texts is a life-long task. Thus, a synagogue normally has a well-stocked library of sacred Jewish texts for members of the community to study. It is also the place where children receive their basic religious education. Most synagogues also have a social hall for religious and non-religious activities. The synagogue often functions as a sort of town hall where matters of importance to the community can be discussed.

In addition, the synagogue functions as a social welfare agency, collecting and dispensing money and other items for the aid of the poor and needy within the community. Organizational Structure Synagogues are, for the most part, independent community organizations. In the United States, at least, individual synagogues do not answer to any central authority. There are central organizations for the various movements of Judaism, and synagogues are often affiliated with these organizations, but these organizations have no real power over individual synagogues. Synagogues are generally run by a board of directors composed of lay people. They manage and maintain the synagogue and its activities, and hire a rabbi and chazzan (cantor) for the community. Yes, you read that right: Jewish clergy are employees of the synagogue, hired and fired by the lay members of the synagogue. Clergy are not provided by any central organization, as they are in some denominations of Christianity. However, if a synagogue hires a rabbi or chazzan that is not acceptable to the central organization, they may lose membership in that central organization. For example, if an Orthodox synagogue hires a Reform rabbi, the synagogue will lose membership in the Orthodox Union .

If a Conservative synagogue wishes to hire a Reconstructionist rabbi, it must first get permission from the USCJ . The rabbi usually works with a ritual committee made up of lay members of the synagogue to set standards and procedures for the synagogue. Not surprisingly, there can be tension between the rabbi and the membership (his employers) if they do not have the same standards, for example if the membership wants to serve pepperoni pizza (not kosher ) at a synagogue event. It is worth noting that a synagogue can exist without a rabbi or a chazzan: religious services can be, and often are, conducted by lay people in whole or in part. It is not unusual for a synagogue to be without a rabbi, at least temporarily, and many synagogues, particularly smaller ones, have no chazzan. However, the rabbi and chazzan are valuable members of the community, providing leadership, guidance and education. Synagogues do not pass around collection plates during services, as many churches do. This is largely because Jewish law prohibits carrying money on holidays and Shabbat .

Tzedakah (charitable donation) is routinely collected at weekday morning services, usually through a centrally-located pushke , but this money is usually given to charity, and not used for synagogue expenses. Instead, synagogues are financed through membership dues paid annually, through voluntary donations, through the purchase of reserved seats for services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the holidays when the synagogue is most crowded), and through the purchase of various types of memorial plaques. It is important to note, however, that you do not have to be a member of a synagogue in order to worship there. If you plan to worship at a synagogue regularly and you have the financial means, you should certainly pay your dues to cover your fair share of the synagogue's costs, but no synagogue checks membership cards at the door (except possibly on the High Holidays mentioned above, if there aren't enough seats for everyone). Ritual Items in the Synagogue The portion of the synagogue where prayer services are performed is commonly called the sanctuary. Synagogues in the United States are generally designed so that the front of the sanctuary is on the side towards Jerusalem, which is the direction that we are supposed to face when reciting certain prayers.

Probably the most important feature of the sanctuary is the Ark, a cabinet or recession in the wall that holds the Torah scrolls . The Ark is also called the Aron Kodesh ("holy cabinet"), and I was once told that the term "ark" is an acrostic of "aron kodesh," although someone else told me that "ark" is just an old word for a chest. In any case, the word has no relation to Noah's Ark, which is the word "teyvat" in Hebrew. The Ark is generally placed in the front of the room; that is, on the side towards Jerusalem. The Ark has doors as well as an inner curtain called a parokhet. This curtain is in imitation of the curtain in the Sanctuary in The Temple, and is named for it. During certain prayers, the doors and/or curtain of the Ark may be opened or closed. Opening or closing the doors or curtain is performed by a member of the congregation, and is considered an honor. All congregants stand when the Ark is open. In front of and slightly above the Ark, you will find the ner tamid, the Eternal Lamp.

This lamp symbolizes the commandment to keep a light burning in the Tabernacle outside of the curtain surrounding the Ark of the Covenant. (Ex. 27:20-21). In addition to the ner tamid, you may find a menorah (candelabrum) in many synagogues, symbolizing the menorah in the Temple. The menorah in the synagogue will generally have six or eight branches instead of the Temple menorah's seven, because exact duplication of the Temple's ritual items is improper. In the center of the room or in the front you will find a pedestal called the bimah. The Torah scrolls are placed on the bimah when they are read. The bimah is also sometimes used as a podium for leading services. There is an additional, lower lectern in some synagogues called an amud. In Orthodox synagogues, you will also find a separate section where the women sit. This may be on an upper floor balcony, or in the back of the room, or on the side of the room, separated from the men's section by a wall or curtain called a mechitzah.

Men are not permitted to pray in the presence of women, because they are supposed to have their minds on their prayers, not on pretty girls. See The Role of Women in the Synagogue for details. Finding a Synagogue If you are interested in finding an Orthodox synagogue or minyan (prayer group) in your area, check out Go Daven , a searchable worldwide database of Orthodox minyans. Just tell them where you want to daven (pray), and they'll find you an Orthodox minyan, complete with service times and even a link to a map! Chabad , a division of the Lubavitcher Chasidic movement, also has a good searchable directory of their prayer and learning centers. Although Chabad is strictly and uncompromisingly Orthodox, they are very open to those at a different level of observance who are interested in learning. If you would prefer a Conservative synagogue, try the USCJ's Find a Kehilla page. If you prefer Reform , try the URJ's Directory of Congregations . For Reconstructionist synagogues, try the JRF's directory of Reconstructionist Congregations and Havurot .

Non-Jews Visiting a Synagogue Non-Jews are always welcome to attend services in a synagogue, so long as they behave as proper guests. Proselytizing and "witnessing" to the congregation are not proper guest behavior. Would you walk into a stranger's house and criticize the decor? But we always welcome non-Jews who come to synagogue out of genuine curiosity, interest in the service or simply to join a friend in celebration of a Jewish event. When going to a synagogue, you should dress as you would for church: nicely, formally, and modestly. A man should wear a yarmulke (skullcap) if Jewish men in the congregation do so; yarmulkes are available at the entrance for those who do not have one. In some synagogues, married women should also wear a head covering. A piece of lace sometimes called a "chapel hat" is generally provided for this purpose in synagogues where this is required. Non-Jews should not, however, wear a tallit (prayer shawl) or tefillin , because these items are signs of our obligation to observe Jewish law .

If you are in an Orthodox synagogue, be careful to sit in the right section: men and women are seated separately in an Orthodox synagogue. See The Role of Women in the Synagogue for details. During services, non-Jews can follow along with the English, which is normally printed side-by-side with the Hebrew in the prayerbook. You may join in with as much or as little of the prayer service as you feel comfortable participating in. You may wish to review Jewish Liturgy before attending the service, to gain a better understanding of what is going on. Non-Jews should stand whenever the Ark is open and when the Torah is carried to or from the Ark, as a sign of respect for the Torah and for G-d . At any other time where worshippers stand, non-Jews may stand or sit. The Temple When we speak of The Temple, we speak of the place in Jerusalem that was the center of Jewish worship from the time of Solomon to its destruction by the Romans in 70 C.E. 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" (known to Jews as the Western Wall or in Hebrew, the Kotel) is the remains of the western retaining wall of the hill that the Temple was built on. It is as close to the site of the original Sanctuary as Jews can go today. You can see a live picture of the Kotel and learn about it at KotelCam . The Temple was located on a platform above and behind this wall. Today, the site of The Temple is occupied by the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim shrine for pilgrims) and the Al-Aqsa Mosque (a Muslim house of prayer). The Dome of the Rock is the gold-domed building that figures prominently in most pictures of Jerusalem. Traditional Jews believe that The Temple will be rebuilt when the Mashiach (Messiah) comes. They eagerly await that day and pray for it continually. Modern Jews, on the other hand, reject the idea of rebuilding the Temple and resuming sacrifices . They call their houses of prayer "temples," believing that such houses of worship are the only temples we need, the only temples we will ever have, and are equivalent to the Temple in Jerusalem.

This idea is very offensive to some traditional Jews, which is why you should be very careful when using the word Temple to describe a Jewish place of worship. © Copyright 5756-5772 (1995-2012), Tracey R Rich If you appreciate the many years of work I have put into this site, show your appreciation by linking to this page, not copying it to your site. I can't correct my mistakes or add new material if it's on your site. Click Here for more details. Practicing Religion in Places of Worship - dummies Practicing Religion in Places of Worship Practicing Religion in Places of Worship Practicing Religion in Places of Worship By Rabbi Marc Gellman, Monsignor Thomas Hartman For some religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, communal worship is important. The faithful gather at particular times on particular days and interact in a faith experience. For other religions, like Shinto and Buddhism, for example, individual worship is the focus. In yet other faiths, such as Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, worship can be both individual (daily prayers) and collective (celebrating religious festivals).

Although they may get together for prayer, the prayers are generally individual for members of most religions, not collective. Whether communal, individual, or both, most religions have structures that serve as places of worship. Although these structures are often buildings, they don’t have to be. Nor do they have to be grand or imposing. A storefront church or mosque can be as central for routine worship as an ancient shrine. Synagogues: Jewish houses of prayer A Jewish house of prayer, study, and gathering has many names: beit kenesset, shule, kehilat kodesh, Temple, Congregation, Jewish center, and more. The Greek word synagogue is the most generic; it’s also the one most people are likely to recognize. The synagogue is a place of study (beit midrash), a house of gathering (beit kenesset), and a house of prayer (beit tefilah). The most important thing in a synagogue is the ark (aron hakosh), a container or cabinet that contains the Torah scroll: The ark represents the Holy of Holies (originally, the inner sanctum of Solomon’s Temple that contained the original tablets holding the Ten Commandments).

As such, it’s the most sacred place in a synagogue and the focal point of prayer. The ark has doors as well as an inner curtain, called a parokhet. This curtain is named after and modeled from the curtain in the sanctuary in the first temple in Jerusalem. During certain prayers, the doors and/or curtain of the ark may be opened or closed. Typically, a member of the synagogue opens and closes the doors (or pulls the curtain); being the person to do this is considered an honor. The ark also has an eternal light (ner tamid) that symbolizes the eternal flame that once burned on the Temple Mount. In most synagogues, the ark has a raised area in front of it called a bima. In orthodox synagogues, the bima is often in the middle of the congregation. This is where the Torah is read on Mondays, Thursdays, and on the Sabbath. In other synagogues, the bima is up front. Synagogues try to put the ark on the wall that faces Jerusalem so that worshippers face Jerusalem during prayer. If the synagogue can’t be arranged that way, worshippers face the ark.

In synagogues, you won’t find exact representations of any of the holy objects that were once in the Temple (it’s forbidden). For example, if a synagogue has a menorah (a candelabrum), it can’t be seven-branched like the menorah in the Temple at Jerusalem. Buddhist temples You won’t find regular daily prayers at Buddhist temples. Buddhist temples are places for personal devotion, ancestor worship, meditation, and offerings for the monks and for the Buddha. Individual devotion is so important to Buddhism, in fact, that Buddhists can construct shrines in their own homes. These shrines, like the great temples, help believers remember their ancestors and Buddhist scriptures. At home, shrines (or altars) should be located in a separate room or quiet area. The shrine contains the following items: An image of Buddha: This image, whether a statue or picture, represents the Buddha who passed on his teaching and the potential for everyone to attain enlightenment. It is placed on a special shelf high on the wall, in a place of honor. A vase or tray with flowers: The flowers symbolize the impermanence of all living things and are usually arranged to represent some aspect of Buddhist teaching.

For example, a single flower represents the unity of all things; four flowers can represent the Four Noble Truths, and so on. A candle (or oil lamp, in some traditions): The lighted candle or lamp symbolizes the light of enlightenment. Incense: Because the fragrance fills the room, incense symbolizes how Buddha’s teachings spread throughout the world. A miniature stupa: The relics of the Buddha are buried within a dome-like shrine, or stupa. A miniature one on a home altar can represent Buddha’s relics, or it can contain family relics. Scripture: Most people have a Buddhist text on or near the altar to both refer to and to remind Buddhists of the Middle Way. Mosques: Places of ritual prostration The word mosque comes from the Arabic masjid, which means a place of ritual prostration, and that, in a nutshell is what a mosque is. Although mosques, since Muhammad’s time, have served various functions — political social, and educational, as well as religious — the main function of a mosque is as a place devoted to the praise and worship of Allah. A mosque is any place devoted to prayer.

It could be a house, a community building, or an open area of ground that was marked off as sacred. In fact, the early mosques were based on the place where Muhammad worshipped: the courtyard of his house. The builders kept the basic design — open space — and added a roof. Many mosques have domed roofs, atop of which is the symbol of Islam: a star cradled by a crescent moon. The star has five points, reminding Muslims of the five obligations of Islam. The crescent moon reminds Muslims of Allah the Creator and the lunar calendar that marks Islamic holy days. Attached to many mosques in Muslim countries is a tower, called a minaret, where the muezzin (or crier) calls people to prayer. Most mosques also have an ablutions room, a place where the faithful can perform the ritual washing before prayer. When you enter a mosque, you may notice the following: Mosques don’t have furniture. Everyone sits on the floor, not in pews or chairs. In larger mosques, the carpeting often has a design that marks out the prayer lines so that people know where to sit to leave enough room for someone else.

The wall that faces Mecca (and the wall Muslims face when they pray) is called the qiblah. Set in this wall is a niche or an alcove, called a mihrab that points in the direction of Mecca. The mihrab is not an altar (even though it kind of looks like one). Its function is to direct Muslims’ minds and thoughts toward God. To the right of the arch is a raised platform called the minbar. Similar to a pulpit, this is where the imam reads the prayers and gives sermons. Mosques don’t have statues or pictures. You won’t find images of God, Muhammad, or any of the prophets, for example. Instead, you’ll find beautiful calligraphy of verses from the Qur’an. What is a Jewish place of worship and teaching ca... - OpenStudy anonymous 3 years ago What is a Jewish place of worship and teaching called? A. synagogue B. mosque C. church D. kiva History What are the places of worship for Christianity, Islam, and Judaism and who is the religious leader for Judaism?Also, what are the tenets of...

| eNotes February 18, 2010 at 11:01 AM Christians worship in churches and cathedrals, where Muslims worship in Mosques. Jews observe the Sabbath and conduct services in Synagogue, or as sometimes referred to, "going to Temple". The Jewish equivalent of a Priest or Pastor is called a Rabbi. Jews, Muslims and Christians have a lot in common. They worship the same God, but refer to him as God, Yahweh, or Allah depending on the religion. They also believe in the same prophet, Abraham. All three religions believe in Jesus, but differ on his role. Muslims and Christians both believe he was a prophet, but only Christians believe he was the Son of God. Jews believe he was a good man with great teachings, but not a prophet - they are still waiting for the prophet to come as promised. Muslims also believe in a third prophet, Mohammed. Jews study the old testament of the Bible, specifically, the first five books. This is their holy book, the Torah. Christians have the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. Muslims study the Koran, which they believe is the word of God as told to Mohammed directly.

As for specific tenets of each religion, the Muslims believe in the Five Pillars of Islam - Charity, Prayer, Fasting, Pilgrimage to Mecca, and Mohammed the Prophet. They observe the holy month of Ramadan, and fast from sun up to sundown. Jews believe in observing the Sabbath day, as commanded in the Ten Commandments. They believe in the Old Testament and its teachings. Christians emphasize the teachings of Jesus, the Crucifixion as taking away the Sin of Man, and the principle of forgiveness. like 0 dislike 0 February 18, 2010 at 6:38 PM the places of worship for Islam are Mosques.The believers are called Muslim.They believe in Allah.They know whole human being comes from Adam.According to them The Last Holy Prophet is Hz. Muhammed (SAW). The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahadah (profession of faith), Salat (prayers), Zakat (giving of alms), Sawm (fasting, specifically during Ramadan ) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca ).

These five practices are essential to Sunni Muslims; Shi'a Muslims subscribe to eight ritual practices which substantially overlap with the five Pillars. [1] Twelvers have five Principles. The shahadah is a set statement normally recited in Arabic "'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh", translated as: "[I profess that] There is no God but God, and Mohammad is his Prophet." [ like 0 dislike 0 Synagogue Background & Overview | Jewish Virtual Library What's in a Name? Throughout this site, I have used the word "synagogue," but there are actually several different terms for a Jewish "church," and you can tell a lot about people by the terms they use. The Hebrew term is beit k'nesset (literally, House of Assembly), although you will rarely hear this term used in conversation in English. The Orthodox and Chasidim typically use the word "shul," which is Yiddish . The word is derived from a German word meaning "school," and emphasizes the synagogue's role as a place of study.

Conservative Jews usually use the word "synagogue," which is actually a Greek translation of Beit K'nesset and means "place of assembly" (it's related to the word "synod"). Reform Jews use the word "temple," because they consider every one of their meeting places to be equivalent to, or a replacement for, The Temple . The use of the word "temple" to describe modern houses of prayer offends some traditional Jews, because it trivializes the importance of The Temple. The word "shul," on the other hand, is unfamiliar to many modern Jews. When in doubt, the word "synagogue" is the best bet, because everyone knows what it means, and I've never known anyone to be offended by it. Functions of a Synagogue At a minimum, a synagogue is a beit tefilah, a house of prayer . It is the place where Jews come together for community prayer services. Jews can satisfy the obligations of daily prayer by praying anywhere; however, there are certain prayers that can only be said in the presence of a minyan (a quorum of 10 adult men), and tradition teaches that there is more merit to praying with a group than there is in praying alone.

The sanctity of the synagogue for this purpose is second only to The Temple . In fact, in rabbinical literature, the synagogue is sometimes referred to as the "little Temple." A synagogue is usually also a beit midrash, a house of study. Contrary to popular belief, Jewish education does not end at the age of bar mitzvah . For the observant Jew, the study of sacred texts is a life-long task. Thus, a synagogue normally has a well-stocked library of sacred Jewish texts for members of the community to study. It is also the place where children receive their basic religious education. Most synagogues also have a social hall for religious and non-religious activities. The synagogue often functions as a sort of town hall where matters of importance to the community can be discussed. In addition, the synagogue functions as a social welfare agency, collecting and dispensing money and other items for the aid of the poor and needy within the community. Organizational Structure Synagogues are generally run by a board of directors composed of lay people. They manage and maintain the synagogue and its activities, and hire a rabbi for the community.

It is worth noting that a synagogue can exist without a rabbi: religious services can be, and often are, conducted by lay people in whole or in part. It is not unusual for a synagogue to be without a rabbi, at least temporarily. However, the rabbi is a valuable member of the community, providing leadership, guidance and education. Synagogues do not pass around collection plates during services, as many churches do. This is largely because Jews are not permitted to carry money on holidays and sabbaths . Instead, synagogues are financed through membership dues paid annually, through voluntary donations, and through the purchase of reserved seats for services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the holidays when the synagogue is most crowded). It is important to note, however, that you do not have to be a member of a synagogue in order to worship there. If you plan to worship at a synagogue regularly and you have the financial means, you should certainly pay your dues to cover your fair share of the synagogue's costs, but no synagogue checks membership cards at the door (except possibly on the High Holidays mentioned above, if there aren't enough seats for everyone). Synagogues are, for the most part, independent community organizations.

In the United States, at least, individual synagogues do not answer to any central authority. There are central organizations for the various movements of Judaism, and synagogues are often affiliated with these organizations, but these organizations have no real power over individual synagogues. Ritual Items in the Synagogue The portion of the synagogue where prayer services are performed is commonly called the sanctuary. Synagogues in the United States are generally designed so that the front of the sanctuary is on the side towards Jerusalem, which is the direction that we are supposed to face when reciting certain prayers. Probably the most important feature of the sanctuary is the Ark . The name "Ark" is an acrostic of the Hebrew words Aron Kodesh, which means "holy cabinet." The word has no relation to Noah's Ark, which is the word "teyvat" in Hebrew. The Ark is a cabinet or recession in the wall, which holds the Torah scrolls . The Ark is generally placed in the front of the room; that is, on the side towards Jerusalem. The Ark has doors as well as an inner curtain called a parokhet. This curtain is in imitation of the curtain in the Sanctuary in The Temple, and is named for it.

During certain prayers, the doors and/or curtain of the Ark may be opened or closed. Opening or closing the doors or curtain is performed by a member of the congregation, and is considered an honor. In front of and slightly above the Ark, you will find the ner tamid , the Eternal Lamp. This lamp symbolizes the commandment to keep a light burning in the Tabernacle outside of the curtain surrounding the Ark of the Covenant. ( Ex. 27:20-21 ). In addition to the ner tamid, you may find a menorah (candelabrum) in many synagogues, symbolizing the menorah in the Temple. The menorah in the synagogue will generally have six or eight branches instead of the Temple menorah's seven, because exact duplication of the Temple's ritual items is improper. In the center of the room or in the front you will find a pedestal called the bimah. The Torah scrolls are placed on the bimah when they are read. The bimah is also sometimes used as a podium for leading services. There is an additional, lower lectern in some synagogues called an amud.

In Orthodox synagogues, you will also find a separate section where the women sit. This may be on an upper floor balcony, or in the back of the room, or on the side of the room, separated from the men's section by a wall or curtain called a mechitzah. Men are not permitted to pray in the presence of women. Non-Jews Visiting a Synagogue Non-Jews are always welcome to attend services in a synagogue, so long as they behave as proper guests. Proselytizing and "witnessing" to the congregation are not proper guest behavior. Would you walk into a stranger's house and criticize the decor? But we always welcome non-Jews who come to synagogue out of genuine curiosity, interest in the service or simply to join a friend in celebration of a Jewish event. When going to a synagogue, you should dress as you would for church: nicely, formally, and modestly. A man should wear a yarmulke (skullcap) if Jewish men in the congregation do so; yarmulkes are available at the entrance for those who do not have one. In some synagogues, married women should also wear a head covering.

A piece of lace sometimes called a "chapel hat" is generally provided for this purpose in synagogues where this is required. Non-Jews should not, however, wear a tallit (prayer shawl) or tefillin , because these items are signs of our obligation to observe Jewish law . If you are in an Orthodox synagogue, be careful to sit in the right section: men and women are seated separately in an Orthodox synagogue. During services, non-Jews can follow along with the English, which is normally printed side-by-side with the Hebrew in the prayerbook. You may join in with as much or as little of the prayer service as you feel comfortable participating in. You may wish to review Jewish Liturgy before attending the service, to gain a better understanding of what is going on. Non-Jews should stand whenever the Ark is open and when the Torah is carried to or from the Ark, as a sign of respect for the Torah and for G-d . At any other time where worshippers stand, non-Jews may stand or sit.

The Temple When we speak of The Temple , we speak of the place in Jerusalem that was the center of Jewish religion from the time of Solomon to its destruction by the Romans in 70 C.E. 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 Muslim Mosque, the Dome of the Rock. Traditional Jews believe that The Temple will be rebuilt when the Moshiach (Messiah) comes. They eagerly await that day and pray for it continually. Modern Jews, on the other hand, reject the idea of rebuilding the Temple and resuming sacrifices . They call their houses of prayer "temples," believing that such houses of worship are the only temples we need, the only temples we will ever have, and are equivalent to the Temple in Jerusalem. This idea is very offensive to some traditional Jews, which is why you should be very careful when using the word Temple to describe a Jewish place of worship.

Question: What is a Jewish place of worship called?
Answer: Synagogue