
A synagogue (from Greek language ''συναγωγη'', Transliterate sunagoge, "place of assembly" literally "meeting, assembly") is a Judaism house of prayer and study. The Hebrew language term for synagogue is ''Beit Knesset'' (House of Assembly) or ''Beit Tefila'' (House of Prayer). There are usually separate rooms for prayer (the main sanctuary) and smaller rooms for study. Rooms set aside for study are referred to as a "''Beth midrash''" (Hebrew, House of study.) Communal prayer is an important feature of Judaism. Though prayers can be said anywhere, according to ''halakha'' Jews should ideally pray three times a day in a ''minyan'', and a synagogue's primary purpose is typically to accommodate such communal prayer. Synagogues are not used only for prayer, but also for communal activities, adult education and Hebrew schools for school-age children, hence the common Yiddish term shul for synagogue, which comes from the Middle High German word for ''school''. Portugal Jews call it esnoga, which derives from "synagogue". Typically a synagogue (especially in North America and in Europe) will have a dual leadership: a lay leadership comprising a committee and a president (or chairperson) who are democratically elected by all members, and a spiritual guide, a rabbi, appointed by the lay leadership. A rabbi is not essential and indeed many synagogues do not have one. ==Varieties== [[Image:Templebethel.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Temple Beth-El (Pensacola, Florida), the oldest synagogue in Florida, built in Art Deco design.]] Most Conservative Judaism and many Orthodox Judaism Jews refer to their houses of worship as synagogues; many Orthodox Jews use the Yiddish language term ''shul'' (meaning "school"), and a few use the Hebrew term ''Beit Knesset'' (meaning "house of assembly"), or, amongst some Sephardim, the Spanish language and Portuguese language term ''esnoga''. In the United States, most Reform Judaism and some Conservative Jews use the term "Temple" to describe their house of worship; but most traditional Jews find this term inaccurate, as Judaism has historically only had one Temple, the Temple in Jerusalem. Most Conservative and Orthodox synagogues have Jewish services every day; a morning service, and a combined afternoon-evening service. Larger (particularly Orthodox) synagogues may have multiple morning, afternoon, and evening services at different times, to accommodate the schedules of their congregants. There are special services on Shabbat (the Sabbath) and on the Jewish holidays; again, larger (particularly Orthodox) synagogues may have multiple simultaneous or overlapping services in different rooms, geared to different groups (e.g. early risers, families, children, young adults). Many Reform Temples only have prayer services once or twice a week. Many Jews have a regular place of worship that is not a synagogue by the usual definition of the term. Many Haredi Judaism worship in shteibels (Yiddish language: "little booths"), rooms in private houses or places of business set aside for the express purpose of prayer. Shteibels do not offer the communal services of a synagogue, and are for prayer services alone. Many non-Orthodox Jews have formed chavurot (prayer fellowships) which meet at a regular place and time, usually in someone's house or apartment. ==Blueprint for synagogues== It is a myth that synagogues are based on the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem. There is no set blueprint for synagogues and the architectural shapes and interior designs of synagogues vary greatly. The influence of other local religious buildings can occasionally be seen. The myth may have arisen because synagogues have been referred to in the Rabbinical Literature as Small Temples and indeed their popularity originated with the destruction of the original Temple as an alternative to the central worship in Jerusalem. According to tradition, the Divine Presence can be found when there is a ''minyan'' (a quorum, of ten — in Orthodox Judaism defined as ten Jewish men aged 13 or over). A synagogue may contain any (or none) of these features: an ark, called ''aron ha-kodesh'' by Ashkenazim and ''hekhal'' by Sephardim, where the Torah scrolls are kept (the ark is often closed with an ornate curtain (parokhet) outside or inside the ark doors); a large elevated reader's platform, called ''bimah'' by Ashkenazim and ''tebah'' by Sephardim, where the Torah is read (and the services conducted from in Sephardi synagogues); a ''ner tamid'', a constantly lit light as a reminder of the constantly lit ''menorah'' of the Temple in Jerusalem; mainly in Ashkenazi synagogues, a pulpit facing the congregation to preach from and a pulpit facing the Ark for the ''Hazzan'' (reader) to lead the prayers from. A synagogue may have artworks — especially ornamentation of the main interior features; but normally not 3-dimensional artwork (sculpture) depicting naturally occurring objects, as these are considered to be like idolatry. Rabbis have suggested that a synagogue should have twelve windows, plain or depicting the Twelve Tribes of Israel, to remind participants that their prayers are not individual but communal, i.e., for all the people of Israel, present or not. 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. (However this orientation need not be exact, and occasionally synagogues face other directions for structural reason in which case the community will often face Jerusalem when standing for prayers.) == Famous synagogues== [[Image:Lesko synagoga.jpg|thumb|right|Lesko synagogue, Poland]] Old New Synagogue, Prague in Prague, Czech Republic, is the oldest synagogue in Europe dating from the 11th century. (1574 synagogues were damaged or destroyed on Kristallnacht by Nazis in Germany and Austria, including many of the greatest synagogues of Europe.) The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island is the oldest Jewish house of worship in North America. It was built in 1759 for the Jeshuat Israel congregation, which had existed since 1658. The Bevis Marks Synagogue, in the City of London, is the oldest continually functioning synagogue in the world. Founded by Sephardi Jews in 1701, it has functioned 'without let or hindrance' ever since. The synagogue in the old city of Kochi, Kerala State, India, is from 1568. In Israel and regions of the Jewish diaspora there are many archaeological ruins of synagogues from thousands of years ago. The small ruined synagogue at Masada is one of the most well documented that dates from the time of the Second Temple, though synagogues were discovered in Egypt and on the island of Delos which predate the synagogue at Masada. The largest synagogue in the world is Temple Emanu-El on Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA with an area of 3,523 sq m. Other large synagogues are the Great Synagogues on King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel; Dohány Street Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary; and the Great Synagogue, Plzen in Plzen, Czech Republic. ==See also== *Siddur *Jewish services *Hazzan *Cantor *Synagogue architecture *Simeon Singer *Salomon Sulzer *United Synagogue *Synagogue of the Libertines *Ma Tovu ==External links== *[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=1212&letter=S&search=synagogue 1901-1906 Jewish Encyclopedia article on Synagogue] *[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/SUS_TAV/SYNAGOGUE_avvaywyii_.html 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article on Synagogue] *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14379b.htm 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article on Synagogue] Synagogues jv:Sinagoga simple:Synagogue
==Etymology of "Synagogue"== According to the Online Eymology Dictionary: c.1175, from O.Fr. sinagoge (11c.), from L.L. synagoga "congregation of Jews," from Gk. synagoge "place of assembly, synagogue," lit. "meeting, assembly," from synagein "to gather, assemble," from syn- "together" + agein "bring, lead." Used by Gk. translators of the Old Testament as a loan-translation of late Heb. keneseth "assembly" (cf. beth keneseth "synagogue," lit. "house of assembly.") [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=s&p=53] User:Jayjg | User_talk:Jayjg 16:54, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC) == 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica version == Why is Britannica's 1911 article being included in this article? User:Jayjg | User_talk:Jayjg 02:27, 26 Jan 2005 (UTC) ==Greek== If you don't know the Greek, don't put ?????? in the article. It makes it look cluttered. User:Jfdwolff | User_talk:Jfdwolff 14:00, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Esnoga == The Spanish & Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam is known as the Esnoga. Should a disambiguation page for the term "Esnoga" be created? and a page for the Amterdam Synagogue created? (right now "Esnoga" just redirects to the "Synagogue" page). -- User:Cardozo :No, there are multiple synagogues referred to as "Esnoga". If you want to write about the Amsterdam Esnoga, please start Amsterdam Portugese Synagogue and redirect Amsterdam Esnoga there. User:Jfdwolff | User_talk:Jfdwolff 12:59, 27 Mar 2005 (UTC) ==Masada== I changed the text that read "the small ruined synagogue at Masada is believed to be the world's oldest, and the only one known to date from the time of the Second Temple." This is untrue, as many synagogues have been found which predate the one at Masada, but that is the only one discussed by Josephus (to my knowledge) and so the best known. I think thre were others at Herodium and Gamla which date from the second temple period, but I am not sure. Also, is possible that those of Ostia, Dura Europus, and Stobi date from this period, but not certain. User:The lesbian 21:30, 18 Apr 2005 (UTC)
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Words begining with Synagogue:
Synagogue
Synagogue
Synagogues
Synagogues
Synagogues_in_Hong_Kong
Synagogue_Architecture
Synagogue_architecture
Synagogue_architecture
Synagogue_Council_of_America
Synagogue_of_Miskolc
Synagogue_of_Rome
Synagogue_of_the_Libertines
Synagogue_of_the_Libertines
Synagogue
A synagogue (from Greek language ''συναγωγη'', Transliterate sunagoge, "place of assembly" literally "meeting, assembly") is a Judaism house of prayer and study. The Hebrew language term for synagogue is ''Beit Knesset'' (House of Assembly) or ''Beit Tefila'' (House of Prayer). There are usually separate rooms for prayer (the main sanctuary) and smaller rooms for study. Rooms set aside for study are referred to as a "''Beth midrash''" (Hebrew, House of study.) Communal prayer is an important feature of Judaism. Though prayers can be said anywhere, according to ''halakha'' Jews should ideally pray three times a day in a ''minyan'', and a synagogue's primary purpose is typically to accommodate such communal prayer. Synagogues are not used only for prayer, but also for communal activities, adult education and Hebrew schools for school-age children, hence the common Yiddish term shul for synagogue, which comes from the Middle High German word for ''school''. Portugal Jews call it esnoga, which derives from "synagogue". Typically a synagogue (especially in North America and in Europe) will have a dual leadership: a lay leadership comprising a committee and a president (or chairperson) who are democratically elected by all members, and a spiritual guide, a rabbi, appointed by the lay leadership. A rabbi is not essential and indeed many synagogues do not have one. ==Varieties== [[Image:Templebethel.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Temple Beth-El (Pensacola, Florida), the oldest synagogue in Florida, built in Art Deco design.]] Most Conservative Judaism and many Orthodox Judaism Jews refer to their houses of worship as synagogues; many Orthodox Jews use the Yiddish language term ''shul'' (meaning "school"), and a few use the Hebrew term ''Beit Knesset'' (meaning "house of assembly"), or, amongst some Sephardim, the Spanish language and Portuguese language term ''esnoga''. In the United States, most Reform Judaism and some Conservative Jews use the term "Temple" to describe their house of worship; but most traditional Jews find this term inaccurate, as Judaism has historically only had one Temple, the Temple in Jerusalem. Most Conservative and Orthodox synagogues have Jewish services every day; a morning service, and a combined afternoon-evening service. Larger (particularly Orthodox) synagogues may have multiple morning, afternoon, and evening services at different times, to accommodate the schedules of their congregants. There are special services on Shabbat (the Sabbath) and on the Jewish holidays; again, larger (particularly Orthodox) synagogues may have multiple simultaneous or overlapping services in different rooms, geared to different groups (e.g. early risers, families, children, young adults). Many Reform Temples only have prayer services once or twice a week. Many Jews have a regular place of worship that is not a synagogue by the usual definition of the term. Many Haredi Judaism worship in shteibels (Yiddish language: "little booths"), rooms in private houses or places of business set aside for the express purpose of prayer. Shteibels do not offer the communal services of a synagogue, and are for prayer services alone. Many non-Orthodox Jews have formed chavurot (prayer fellowships) which meet at a regular place and time, usually in someone's house or apartment. ==Blueprint for synagogues== It is a myth that synagogues are based on the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem. There is no set blueprint for synagogues and the architectural shapes and interior designs of synagogues vary greatly. The influence of other local religious buildings can occasionally be seen. The myth may have arisen because synagogues have been referred to in the Rabbinical Literature as Small Temples and indeed their popularity originated with the destruction of the original Temple as an alternative to the central worship in Jerusalem. According to tradition, the Divine Presence can be found when there is a ''minyan'' (a quorum, of ten — in Orthodox Judaism defined as ten Jewish men aged 13 or over). A synagogue may contain any (or none) of these features: an ark, called ''aron ha-kodesh'' by Ashkenazim and ''hekhal'' by Sephardim, where the Torah scrolls are kept (the ark is often closed with an ornate curtain (parokhet) outside or inside the ark doors); a large elevated reader's platform, called ''bimah'' by Ashkenazim and ''tebah'' by Sephardim, where the Torah is read (and the services conducted from in Sephardi synagogues); a ''ner tamid'', a constantly lit light as a reminder of the constantly lit ''menorah'' of the Temple in Jerusalem; mainly in Ashkenazi synagogues, a pulpit facing the congregation to preach from and a pulpit facing the Ark for the ''Hazzan'' (reader) to lead the prayers from. A synagogue may have artworks — especially ornamentation of the main interior features; but normally not 3-dimensional artwork (sculpture) depicting naturally occurring objects, as these are considered to be like idolatry. Rabbis have suggested that a synagogue should have twelve windows, plain or depicting the Twelve Tribes of Israel, to remind participants that their prayers are not individual but communal, i.e., for all the people of Israel, present or not. 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. (However this orientation need not be exact, and occasionally synagogues face other directions for structural reason in which case the community will often face Jerusalem when standing for prayers.) == Famous synagogues== [[Image:Lesko synagoga.jpg|thumb|right|Lesko synagogue, Poland]] Old New Synagogue, Prague in Prague, Czech Republic, is the oldest synagogue in Europe dating from the 11th century. (1574 synagogues were damaged or destroyed on Kristallnacht by Nazis in Germany and Austria, including many of the greatest synagogues of Europe.) The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island is the oldest Jewish house of worship in North America. It was built in 1759 for the Jeshuat Israel congregation, which had existed since 1658. The Bevis Marks Synagogue, in the City of London, is the oldest continually functioning synagogue in the world. Founded by Sephardi Jews in 1701, it has functioned 'without let or hindrance' ever since. The synagogue in the old city of Kochi, Kerala State, India, is from 1568. In Israel and regions of the Jewish diaspora there are many archaeological ruins of synagogues from thousands of years ago. The small ruined synagogue at Masada is one of the most well documented that dates from the time of the Second Temple, though synagogues were discovered in Egypt and on the island of Delos which predate the synagogue at Masada. The largest synagogue in the world is Temple Emanu-El on Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA with an area of 3,523 sq m. Other large synagogues are the Great Synagogues on King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel; Dohány Street Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary; and the Great Synagogue, Plzen in Plzen, Czech Republic. ==See also== *Siddur *Jewish services *Hazzan *Cantor *Synagogue architecture *Simeon Singer *Salomon Sulzer *United Synagogue *Synagogue of the Libertines *Ma Tovu ==External links== *[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=1212&letter=S&search=synagogue 1901-1906 Jewish Encyclopedia article on Synagogue] *[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/SUS_TAV/SYNAGOGUE_avvaywyii_.html 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article on Synagogue] *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14379b.htm 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article on Synagogue] Synagogues jv:Sinagoga simple:Synagogue
Synagogue
==Etymology of "Synagogue"== According to the Online Eymology Dictionary: c.1175, from O.Fr. sinagoge (11c.), from L.L. synagoga "congregation of Jews," from Gk. synagoge "place of assembly, synagogue," lit. "meeting, assembly," from synagein "to gather, assemble," from syn- "together" + agein "bring, lead." Used by Gk. translators of the Old Testament as a loan-translation of late Heb. keneseth "assembly" (cf. beth keneseth "synagogue," lit. "house of assembly.") [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=s&p=53] User:Jayjg | User_talk:Jayjg 16:54, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC) == 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica version == Why is Britannica's 1911 article being included in this article? User:Jayjg | User_talk:Jayjg 02:27, 26 Jan 2005 (UTC) ==Greek== If you don't know the Greek, don't put ?????? in the article. It makes it look cluttered. User:Jfdwolff | User_talk:Jfdwolff 14:00, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Esnoga == The Spanish & Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam is known as the Esnoga. Should a disambiguation page for the term "Esnoga" be created? and a page for the Amterdam Synagogue created? (right now "Esnoga" just redirects to the "Synagogue" page). -- User:Cardozo :No, there are multiple synagogues referred to as "Esnoga". If you want to write about the Amsterdam Esnoga, please start Amsterdam Portugese Synagogue and redirect Amsterdam Esnoga there. User:Jfdwolff | User_talk:Jfdwolff 12:59, 27 Mar 2005 (UTC) ==Masada== I changed the text that read "the small ruined synagogue at Masada is believed to be the world's oldest, and the only one known to date from the time of the Second Temple." This is untrue, as many synagogues have been found which predate the one at Masada, but that is the only one discussed by Josephus (to my knowledge) and so the best known. I think thre were others at Herodium and Gamla which date from the second temple period, but I am not sure. Also, is possible that those of Ostia, Dura Europus, and Stobi date from this period, but not certain. User:The lesbian 21:30, 18 Apr 2005 (UTC)
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S
SB | SC | SD | SE | SF | SG | SH | SI | SJ | SK | SL | SM | SN | SO | SP | SR | SS | ST | SU | SW | SX | SY | SZ |Words begining with Synagogue:
Synagogue
Synagogue
Synagogues
Synagogues
Synagogues_in_Hong_Kong
Synagogue_Architecture
Synagogue_architecture
Synagogue_architecture
Synagogue_Council_of_America
Synagogue_of_Miskolc
Synagogue_of_Rome
Synagogue_of_the_Libertines
Synagogue_of_the_Libertines
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