The Synagogue
Origin of the name:
- There are actually several different terms for a Jewish "church” and synagogue or one of them.
Functions of the synagogue:
- 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.
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.
Items Found:
-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.
Ten Commandments
- “God gave Moses special rules for Jewish people to learn and live by. These are called the Ten Commandments. Click on the picture to read them.
1) There is only one God.
2) Worship God alone.
3) Do not swear.
4) Keep Shabbat as a holy day.
5) Respect your father and mother.
6) Do not hurt or kill anyone.
7) Take marriage seriously.
8) Do not steal.
9) Do not tell lies.
10) Do not want things that belong to somebody else.
2) Worship God alone.
3) Do not swear.
4) Keep Shabbat as a holy day.
5) Respect your father and mother.
6) Do not hurt or kill anyone.
7) Take marriage seriously.
8) Do not steal.
9) Do not tell lies.
10) Do not want things that belong to somebody else.
Kippah
-Before they enter the main room Jewish men will cover their heads with a kippah as a mark of respect for God.
ETERNAL LIGHT (NER TAMID)
-This light symbolises God's presence in the synagogue, and is never extinguished. It is called the Ner Tamid. In the temple of Old Testament times, the lamp would have been a real flame, but synagogues today have an electric light, often shaped like a flame, as this one is.
ARK
-This is a special cupboard, called the Ark, where the Torah and other scrolls are kept. There are two doors to the Ark to keep the Torah safe. Many synagogues have very old scrolls rescued from synagogues in Eastern Europe that were destroyed by the Nazis at the time of the Holocaust.
SHABBAT CANDLES
-These candles are lit at the start of Shabbat on Friday night. A special prayer called a blessing is said. Jews look forward to Shabbat each week. There are two candles to show that it is more special than other days of the week.
CHALLAH LOAF
-Jews eat this plaited bread called challah as part of their family meal on Shabbat. It is plaited to make it look different from ordinary bread.
KIDDUSH CUP
-On Shabbat, Jews drink wine from a special cup called a kiddush cup. Another blessing is said over the wine.
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