What are some facts about synagogues?

Answer 1

Some facts include:

• Jews worship at synagogues.
• The first synagogue still being used was built in 1371-1387.
• Reform Jews call the synagogue a temple.
• It is the Jewish prayer house.
• The word synagogue can mean assembly, house of prayer or learning together.
• Synagogues usually have a large hall for prayer (the main sanctuary), smaller rooms for study and sometimes a social hall and offices.
• The Jericho synagogue is the oldest known synagogue in the world and was built between 70 and 50 BCE.
• The ark is a special cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept.
• Near the ark there will be a lamp that is kept alight all the time. This is called the ner tamid, which means everlasting light. It is to remind people that God is always there.
• The bimah is the where the Torah scroll is read.
• Some synagogues have a symbolic menorah (candelabrum).
• The star of david is a six pointed star that is a symbol of Judaism. It is likely to be found in synagogues.
• There are tens of thousands of synagogues around the world.

Synagogues, in Judaism, are a place of assembly for worship, education, and communal affairs. The origins of the institution are unclear. One tradition dates it to the Babylonian exile of the 6th century BCE. The returnees may have brought back with them the basic structure that was to be developed by the 1st century CE into a well-defined institution around which Jewish religious, intellectual, and communal life was to be centered from the earliest period into the present. Other scholars believe the synagogue arose after the Hasmonean revolt (167-164 BCE) as a Pharisaic alternative to the Temple-worship. The destruction of the Temple (70 CE) and the Diaspora over the following centuries increased the synagogue's importance. Services in the synagogue were conducted in a simpler manner than in the Temple. There was no officially appointed priest; the services were conducted by a chazan (reader). The role the synagogue played in preserving Judaism intact through the centuries cannot be overestimated, nor can its influence as an intellectual and cultural force. In the modern period, the reform movement restricted its scope to almost purely religious purposes, although among the Orthodox Jews its purview did not diminish. In more recent times the synagogue has again taken on its additional functions as a social and communal center. The architectural appearance of the synagogue has usually not differed from that of local non-Jewish forms. The interior includes an ark in which the Torah scrolls are held and a platform from which they are read. In modern times, a pulpit from which to preach has also become common, and in many synagogues the three are combined on one platform. In the United States, the national synagogue associations, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, the United Synagogue of America (Conservative), and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Reform) are organized in the Synagogue Council of America.

We come there to worship God. An atmosphere of decorum, cleanliness and contemplation is to be maintained. The payers are set forth in the traditional Siddur (prayerbook).

Answer 2

Synagogues are where Jews hold services of public worship, three times a day, every day of the year. Anyone may lead the prayers, but on Sabbath and festivals this is traditionally done by a specially trained chazan. In addition to worship, synagogues may be used for the occasional communal function, and have always been used for teaching Torah.

• Link: When are the prayers?
  

In the front stands the holy ark, which is a tall, heavy, fancy cabinet with a curtain in front and double doors and in which the Torah-scrolls are stored.

The Torah-scroll is placed upon a low, heavy cabinet called a bima, when it is to be read from.

• Link: About the Torah-scrolls
  

Many synagogues have an "eternal lamp". This is alluded to in Exodus 27:20 and represents God's unceasing presence.

In Europe, the earliest known synagogues date back around one thousand years. For example, Rashi's house of study and public prayer (11th century CE) still stands in Troyes, France.

In Israel, the remains of tens of synagogues are known to date back around 2,000 years; most of these can be seen in the upper Galilee region.

The earliest use of synagogues goes back for over 3,000 years. Jews always worshiped in synagogues, even when the Holy Temple stood. Even within the Temple premises, there were several synagogues. During the Second Temple era, ancient Greek authors attest to the large synagogues that stood in all the countries where Jews lived. The Dioploston in Alexandria, for example, was famous for its size (Talmud, Tosefta Sukkah 4:6). In First Temple times also, synagogues served the same function (of daily prayer and study) that they do today (Talmud, Megillah 26b and Berakhot 31a).

According to our tradition, we can pray privately when necessary, but communal prayer has a much stronger effect (Talmud, Berakhot 7b-8a). It also strengthens the spiritual level and the bonds within the community.

While praying, Jews either sit, or stand, depending on the prayer. There is also some bowing forward (in the Amidah and Aleinu), but Jews today do not kneel except once a year on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).
In between the prayers, Kaddish is said; and the Torah is read on many occasions (over two hundred times a year).
While formal prayer services are held in the synagogue three times each day throughout the year, many other blessings (such as those over meals) are said in the home.

More information:

The Jewish prayer-book has a structured order. Prayers are ancient, and often are sung or chanted. Some prayers are said in unison (such as Shir Hakavod), and some are not. Some prayers are said more than once per day (such as the Shema), some once a day (such as Yotzer Ohr), and others are said only on Sabbath, festivals or certain occasions. Some prayers are said aloud (such as Kaddish), some are sung (such as Lekha Dodi) and some are to be whispered (the Amidah). Most of the services are in Hebrew, but a couple of prayers are in Aramaic (such as Brikh Shemei).

Prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a); and the Torah records several prayers of our forefathers.

• Link: The Israelite Patriarchs
  

Prayer is an important form of communicating with God, and maintaining a relationship with Him; and it is also good for the health of the soul, to which Torah, prayer and religious observances are a form of nourishment. Judaism sees it as centrally important to thank God, to recognize that He is the source of prosperity, and to be close to Him.

See also the other Related Links.
Link: What is the Jewish prayerbook?

Link: How are synagogues and rabbis related?
Link: What is the purpose of Jewish swaying during prayer?