8.8 Features Of The Synagogue Flashcards
Worship
Daily prayer
Shabbat services
Minyan
Mezuzah
Passover
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Brit Milah
Amidah
Education
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Passover (sharing the story of it)
Talmudic school (yeshiva)
Hebrew lessons
Community
Shabbat dinner
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Parties
Minyan
Brit Milah
Communal Prayer
Funerals
Marriage
Festivals e.g. Hannukah
Saying the Amidah together
Youth clubs
Star of David
A visible symbol of Judaism
Windows
Letting light in to symbolise that worship doesn’t mean shutting off from the rest of the world
Facing Jerusalem
They are built facing Jerusalem where the temple had originally been built
The Bimah
A raised platform, usually in the centre, which has a desk for reading the Torah
The service will be lead from this platform
The ark
A cupboard fixed to the front wall which contains the Torah scrolls
The doors or curtains are only opened when the Torah scrolls are taken out during worship or on festival occasions
All seating faces towards the ark
The Ner Tamid
The “eternal light” is kept burning at all times in front of or above the Ark
This is a requirement set out in Exodus; “to kindle a lamp continually”. The light is eternal to reflect that God is also eternal
Menorah
Some synagogues will have an actual Menorah but it will only have six or eight branches as exact duplication of items from the Tekple is considered improper by Orthodox Jews
Orthodox
Prayers will be said in Hebrew
Separate seating for women
No musical instruments are used in worship
Only males can read from the Torah
Prayers are said for the rebuilding of the temple and their return to the Holy land
Reform
Prayers will be said in English
Women and men can sit together
There may be a piano, organ or band
Women can read from the Torah
