Translation:

Assembly (from Greek)

Definition:

A building for Jewish religious and social activities, often referred to by the Yiddish shul (lit. school)

A synagogue can be defined as an amalgamation of three Hebrew terms often used: beit tefillah, house of prayer, beit midrash, house of study, and beit kenesset, a house of assembly. A community will use a synagogue for all three of these. Many different sacred and secular events may take place within its walls.

Generally, a synagogue will have a space for prayer with an aron kodesh, a holy ark to house the sacred Torah scroll(s). Where possible, this will be placed so that when facing it, one is facing towards the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There will also be provisions for study gatherings.

While there is no record of the exact origin of the synagogue, it seems to be quite ancient as an institution. There are references to meeting places which are commonly taken to be synagogues in various texts dating back almost 2000 years (e.g. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan to Ex 18:20, Josephus (Apion, 2:175), Christian Bible, Acts 15:21, Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 32a). It is thought that they originated during the Babylonian Exile as places for the exiled Israelites to meet and possibly observe Shabbat and other holidays and read the scripture.

Today, synagogues vary as widely as the personalities of the community they house. Some feel very formal, others less so. Some have benches, others pews, still others movable chairs. In some, the reading desk is in the centre of the prayer space facing the aron kodesh, in others it is in the front facing the congregation. Some have stained glass windows, some organs. In Reform synagogues, all the congregation sit together so there is no physical separation of the seating (i.e. mechitza).

Within the UK, there is a common custom of having a memorial of the Shoah and the victims thereof within the synagogue. While this too can vary widely in terms of aesthetics, it is an important part of UK Jewish tradition.

Although synagogues are an important part of contemporary Jewish life, there are many communities that exist without one. They may use a variety of premises to hold their functions, from members’ houses to hired halls.

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