Synagogue
Its role in Jewish Life
Language
• "synagogue" is derived from the Greek
συναγωγή, transliterated synagogé, "place
of assembly" literally "meeting, assembly".
• In Yiddish: ‫שול‬, shul
How synagogue is known
in Hebrew
• Beit Knesset - ‫" בית כנסת‬house of
assembly"
• Beit Tefila - ‫" בית תפילה‬House of Prayer"
• Beit Midrash - ‫" בית מדרש‬House of Study"
How holy is a synagogue
• Holiness of Time vs Holiness of Space
What would I expect in a
synagogue?
• The synagogue, or if it is a multi-purpose
building, prayer sanctuaries within the
synagogue, should face towards Jerusalem.
Thus sanctuaries in the Western world generally
face east, while those east of Israel face west.
Sanctuaries in Israel face towards Jerusalem.
But this orientation need not be exact, and
occasionally synagogues face other directions
for structural reasons, in which case the
community may face Jerusalem when standing
for prayers.
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An Ark
Torah Scrolls
Reader’s Desk
Eternal Light
Minyan
• Talmud teaches
“9 rabbis do not make a minyan but 10
shoemakers do”
• Minyan defined as 10 Jews coming
together for communal prayer
Variations- Orthodox require 10 men
Conservative require 10 people
Reform not required
Services
• Biblical basis
– Abraham –established morning prayers
– Isaac –established afternoon prayers
– Jacob –established evening prayers
• Replicate daily and special services in
Temple
– On shabbat and holy days “Additional service”
[Mussaph] added
Once you are inside
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Seating
Services
Ark
Reading desk
Music or not
Windows and human
figures
Seating
• Mixed or segregated
• Orthodox
• Reform and
conservative
• Basis in bible
Ark
• Reflects the place in
which Moses placed
the Ten
Commandments
• Today is repository
for Torah Scrolls
Torah
Gen. 1:9 And God said, "Let
the waters be collected".
Letters in black, vowel points
in red, trop in green
Torah Scroll Facts
• A Torah Scroll is the holiest
book within Judaism, made up
of the five books of Moses.
• There are 304,805 letters in a
Torah Scroll.
• Each column has 42 lines
• The Torah Scroll must be
written by a specially trained
scribe called a sofer.
Torah Scroll Facts
• Even a single missing or misshapen letter invalidates the
entire Sefer Torah
• The entire Torah is written by hand, each letter is
inscribed and individually formed with a quill and
specially prepared ink.
• Even a single missing or misshapen letter invalidates the
entire Sefer Torah.
• The Torah is made of many sheets of parchment that are
sown together to make one very long scroll
Torah ornaments
• Basis Exodus 28- describes High Priests
special vestments
– Tunic= torah cover
– Belt= tied around scroll
– Mitre= torah crown
– Breastplate
Windows
Asher
Gad
Reuben
• Synagogue must always have
windows
• Ideally 12 windows like 12 tribes
• Stained glass- what can it have
Benjamin
Dan
Judah
Joseph
Zebulon
Issachar
Naphtali
Levi
Simeon
Torah Rules
• Pointer- Yad
• Touching the text
– While reading the torah
– Can men and women touch a scroll?
Services
• Language- Hebrew or not
– Origins of Hebrew
• Head covering
– Kippa
– Yamulke
Services
• Prayer shawl- Tallit
– Biblical basis Numbers 15:37-41
– Congregants only wear it at morning services
– Do men only wear one
• Orthodox
• Conservative
• Reform
– Tzitzit (tassles)- symbolism
– What is it made from?
Reform
• Abbreviated service- removal of special
service for Shabbat and Holy Days
[Mussaf-Additional Service] that refers to
liturgy on those days and Temple Sacrifice
• Liturgy
– Church like
– Less focus on Hebrew- more in Vernacular
– No segregation of sexes
Recent Trends in Reform
• More emphasis on tradition
– Observance
– Emphasis on Hebrew in liturgy
• Strong emphasis on non-sexist liturgy
• Inclusion of GLBT individuals in movement
and leadership and clergy
Conservative
• Two thrusts
– Germany –liberale
– America –conservative
• Focus on ‘conserving’ tradition
– Response to 1st graduation at Hebrew Union College
• “Treif Banquet”
• Liturgy- similar to orthodox- includes Mussaf but
reference to Temple and sacrifices in past tense
while orthodoxy focuses on restoration of
sacrifices in Messianic Age.
Name the Players
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Rabbi
Cantor/Hazzan
Baal Tefila
Shammas
Rabbi
• "Rabbi" means "teacher" and, through preaching
from the pulpit, teaching classes, and individual
counseling, teaching is the primary duty of a
rabbi. In addition, many rabbis serve as
administrators of their synagogues, represent
the congregation to the community, officiate at
life-cycle events, and serve as Jewish legal
decisors (that is, they render decisions
concerning Jewish legal matters that come
before them).
Rabbi
• Orthodox
– Relies on authority derived from “chain of
tradition”
• Conservative
– Individual authority tempered by Committee
on Jewish Law and standards
• Reform
– Individual authority- may be guided by
tradition- guided by ‘ethical monotheism’
Hazzan
• Traditionally, a Jewish prayer service is
chanted. The leader is called the shaliach
tzibbur (the representative of the
community) who recites the prayers on
behalf of the people. Some prayers are
said by everyone, and some are recited
aloud by the shaliach tzibbur, to which the
congregation responds "Amen." The
Hazzan (cantor) is specially trained in the
art of Jewish music and liturgy for this role.