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Jewish Studies, DWEC, NCCA, DES 1
SECTION 4 Holy Places
Topic 4.2 The Synagogue
The origins, development and physical structure of the
synagogue
Description of
Topic
When, where, and under which circumstances the
synagogue developed in antiquity; The physical layout of
the contemporary synagogue
The main Jewish symbols in a synagogue (menorah, Magen
David, ark curtains, bimah, motifs of windows, symbols of
lions, Ten Commandments)
The structure of the synagogue service for Sabbaths and
holidays; Leadership roles in the synagogue; the function
of prayer in Judaism; One prayer that is of importance for
Jewish practice; The significance of communal and private
prayer in the Jewish faith
The Jewish belief that each person has a personal
connection to God that needs no intermediary
Learning
Outcomes
construct a model of the Holy Temple or of a contemporary
synagogue; name and explain the main Jewish symbols in a
synagogue; summarise the main elements of the synagogue
service; describe leadership roles within the synagogue;
explain the significance of prayer in the Jewish faith; name
one prayer that is of importance in Judaism; explain why
communal and private prayer are important in the Jewish
faith.
SYNAGOGUE
A Synagogue is also known as
Beit K’nesset (House of Assembly)
Beit K’nesset means the House of Assembly.
It is a place for the Jewish community to come together for all types of
meetings, celebrations and other community activities.
Beit Tefillah (House of Prayer)
Beit Tefillah means House of Prayer.
It is where Jews come to worship God.
Jews also worship at home but worshipping with others is an important
part of Judaism.
Beit Midrash (House of Study)
Beit Midrash means House of Study.
It is where Jews come to learn the Jewish language of Hebrew and to learn
about Judaism.
In most synagogues, children and adults can take classes in Hebrew, study
important Jewish religious books and learn all about Judaism.

Although synagogues existed a long time before the destruction of the Second
Temple in 70 CE, communal worship in the time while the Temple still stood
centred around the korbanot (sacrificial offerings brought by the kohanim –
priests – of the Holy Temple)
During the Babylonian captivity (586-537 BCE) the Men of the Great Assembly
formalised and standardised the language of Jewish prayers.Before that, people
prayed as they wished, with each person praying in his or her own way; no
standard prayers were recited.
Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai (30-90 CE) spoke of the idea of creating individual
houses of worship wherever Jews found themselves.They were then able to
maintain a unique identity and a portable way of worship despite the destruction
of the Temple.
Synagogues in the sense of purpose-built spaces for worship, or rooms originally
constructed for some other purpose but reserved for formal, communal prayer,
however, existed long before the destruction of the Second Temple
The earliest archaeological evidence for the existence of very early synagogues
comes from the Palestinian synagogues, which date from the first century CE.
Synagogue Layout
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.
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.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
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
is acceptable.
Adult men (i.e. those over the age of 13) often wear a Tallit or prayer shawl for
morning prayer. In Reform synagogues, women may also do so.A Tallit has
fringes (called tzitzit) on the edges to remind the wearer to observe G-d's
commandments - as commanded by G-d in the Bible.

Tefillin are small leather boxes that contain the Shema Israel, Deuteronomy 6:4-
9, and are strapped to the head and arm during weekday morning prayers.
INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE
ARON KODESH
The Ark is named after the wooden chest which held the stone tablets of the
Covenant that G-d gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Every synagogue contains an Ark, which is a cupboard where the Torah
Scrolls, which contain the text of the Hebrew Bible, are kept.
TORAH SCROLLS
Contained within the Ark
Torah Breastplate and Crown similar to the
attire worn by the High Priest in the Temple
ARON KODESH CURTAIN
The Ark has an inner curtain called a parokhet.
This curtain is in imitation of the curtain in the Sanctuary in the Temple.
Embroidery can be abstract or biblically-based
NER TAMID
Eternal light which burns above the Ark
Symbol of G-d’s presence
It also represents the pillar of fire that guided the Jewish people on their
early journey.
TEN COMMANDMENTS/ASERET HA-D’VARIM
Given to Moses by G-d at Mt Sinai ( Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4)
Judaism teaches that the first tablet, containing the first five declarations,
identifies duties regarding our relationship with G-d
The second tablet, containing the last five declarations, identifies duties
regarding our relationship with other people
BIMAH
The platform and the desk for Torah readings are called the Bimah and in an
Orthodox synagogue are in the centre of the building.
In a Reform synagogue, the Bimah is usually close to the Ark.

RABBI’S PODIUM
The place from which the Rabbi speaks during the synagogue services.
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
While there are no statues or representations of G-d or humans in the synagogue,
the windows represent different aspects of Jewish ritual, significant biblical
events, or abstract scenes.
LIONS
Often lions are depicted in the synagogue stained glass windows or on the
doors of the Ark.
They represent the tribe of Judah, one of the southern tribes of Israel.
In Genesis 49:9, Jacob refers to his son Judah as Gur Aryeh, a lion, when he
blessed him.
MENORAH
Calls to mind the seven-branched
candelabrum used in the Temple
Priests lit the menorah in the
Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it
out every morning, replacing the wicks
and putting fresh olive oil into the cups
Menorah of the First and Second
Temples had seven branches

Symbol of nation of Israel
MAGEN DAVID/STAR OF DAVID
Shape of King David’s Shield
Top triangle moves upward
toward G-d; lower triangle moves
downward towards the world.
Intertwining of triangles
represents united nature of Jewish
people
Three sides represent the
Kohanim (descended from Aaron),
Levites and Israel
Identity badge of Jews in
Nazi Germany
On the flag of State of Israel
Exercises
1. By what other names is a synagogue known?
2. Name the three functions of the synagogue.
3. Explain these functions.
4. Where would you find synagogues located in Ireland?
5. Give any three points of your choice about the historical development of
the synagogue.
6. Where would you find the earliest archaeological evidence of the
existence of a synagogue?
7. In what languages are the synagogue services conducted in an Orthodox
and a Reform synagogue?
8. Why are there differences?
9. What is the name given to the head-covering worn by Jewish men in the
synagogue?
10. Give the Hebrew name for the prayer shawl worn by Jewish men.
11. The fringes (tzitzit) of the prayer shawl have a particular significance.
What is it?
12. Why might that be so important in the live of a Jew?
13. Explain the function of the Aron Kodesh (Ark) in the synagogue.
14. Why is there a curtain on the Ark?
15. Give reasons why the Ten Commandments included in the design of a
synagogue?
16. What is a Bimah?
17. Where in the synagogue would you expect to find the Bimah?
18. Give three reasons why the Ner Tamid is significant for the Jewish people.
19. Describe what might be on the stained glass windows of a synagogue.
20. Explain the significance of the inclusion of a Menorah in the synagogue.
21. What are the three sides of the Star of David said to represent?
22. Write a note about the Star of David in Judaism.

Exercise:Match the correct name on the left to the definition on the right
hand side of the diagram below
(Adapted from the TES site: http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Synagogue-6192619/)
The Jewish Synagogue
Star of David
Bimah
Rabbi
Ark
Torah
Yad
Ner Tamid
(eternal light)
Menorah
Podium
Key for above exercise:
A. Ark; B. Star of David; C. Yad; D. Bimah; E. Rabbi; F. Ner Tamid; G. Torah;
H. Menorah; I. Rabbi’s Podium
A. Most Jews think that this is the most important part of the
Synagogue as the Torah is kept in it. It is like a big ornate wardrobe
with the 10 commandments placed above them. Sometimes called the
Ark of the Covenant.
B. One of the most common symbols used in Judaism. It is a 5
pointer star named after the great King David
C. A pointer that is used when reading the Torah as you are not
allowed to tough the pages.
D. This is where the Rabbi stands to read the torah scrolls. It is a
more important table than the podium.
E. Similar to a Priest but also a teacher.
F. Can also be known as the Eternal Light. It is a hanging light that
stays on ALL the time in the synagogue.
G. The Jewish Holy book. It contains the first five books of the
Jewish Bible and is kept inside the ark.
H. A seven pointer candle holder used in the synagogue. The 9
pointed candle holder is used during Hanukah.
I. A little stand like table where the Rabbi preaches from to the
people. It usually has a microphone on it so everyone can hear.

Exercise: Draw a diagram below of the interior of an Orthodox Synagogue.
In your diagram, include the following and number them accordingly in
your diagram:
Key: 1-Aron Kodesh (Ark); 2 – Torah Scrolls; 3 – Ner Tamid (Eternal Light); 4 – Menorah; 5 –
Ten Commandments; 6 – Rabbi’s/Cantor’s seats; 7 – Cantor’s or Torah ReadingTable; 8 –
Rabbi’s Podium; 9 – Bimah; 10 – Congregational Seating for women; 11 – Congregational
Seating for men
1. ___________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________________________
9. ___________________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________________

Alternative Exercise: Draw a diagram of a synagogue, putting in the missing
parts and naming them.
Fill in, name, and draw the parts of the synagogue , and draw an image which one
might expect to see in a stained glass window in a Jewish synagogue. The
following is a key to aid you in the completion of the diagrams.
Directions
The ark is in the centre of the room on the back wall. Just below the eagle
on the Ark is where the Ten Commandments go. They are written on to
two stone arcs.
Inside the ark is the where the Torah scrolls are kept. This is to keep them
safe and free from being destroyed as they are considered very special.
North of this and on the ceiling is the Ner Tamid. It hangs from the roof
and is always alight.
In the centre of the room on the floor is the Bimah.
Slightly west of this is the Rabbi’s podium. There is also a microphone on
top of the podium so that when the Rabbi speaks everyone can hear him.
North of the ark but south of the Ner Tamid is the Star of David. It is in the
middle of the two on the back wall. There is also a Star of David on the
outside of the synagogue above the arched doorways in a circle.
On the inside of the synagogue, on the eastern walls and the western
walls are two stained glass windows each. On the outside of the
synagogue are 4 stained glass windows also; two on the left hand side and
two on the right.
You must draw a stained glass window on the outside of the synagogue
directly above the arched doorway.
The Menorah is found within in every synagogue. But it can be found
anywhere with in the synagogue. Place the Menorah where you feel it best
fits.

Exercise:Watch the following video clip and answer the questions below
Video of a synagogue in Exeter showing the artefacts of the synagogue (9 minutes
approximately); from http://pow.reonline.org.uk/judaism_video.htm
1. When was the synagogue built?
2. When were the Jews allowed back into England after Cromwell’s time?
3. What does the Star of David represent?
4. Where is the Bimah located in the synagogue?
5. What is the Ark? Describe in detail.
6. What is in the Torah scolls?
7. How are the scrolls written?
8. What happens if the scribe makes a mistake?
9. Why are the Tablets of the Commandments located above the Ark?
10. Describe the Torah scrolls and their coverings.
11. How is the Torah scroll read in the synagogue?
12. What is the high point of the Shabbat morning service?
13. What does the reader use to follow the script?
14. Why is this the case?
15. What is the meaning of having your head covered in the synagogue?
16. Describe the white prayer shawl and its origins.
17. What is written on the back of the collar of the prayer-shawl?
18. Why is the menorah kept in the synagogue?
19. Describe the menorah and its origins.

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