Synagogues are used for worship, education and study.
Public prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a).
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.
It is a Jewish house of worship, study, and assembly, in which Jews come together and pray to God. Jews sometimes also use synagogues as places to meet and study, for adult education and as a venue of Hebrew schooling for school-age children.
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Prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a); and the Torah records several prayers of our forefathers.
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.
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.
How do Jews pray?
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).
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.
See also the Related Links.
Link: What is the Jewish prayerbook?
Link: When are synagogue services held?
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.
According to our tradition, we can pray privately when necessary, but communal prayer in the synagogue has a much stronger effect (Talmud, Berakhot 7b-8a). Praying also strengthens the spiritual level and the bonds within the community.
The importance of prayer:
Prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a); and the Torah records several prayers of our forefathers.
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.
How do Jews pray?
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).
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.
Link: What is the Jewish prayerbook?
Link: When are synagogue services held?
Synagogue schools may be Sunday schools, offering religious education to children of member families. They may be Hebrew schools, offering supplementary lessons in Hebrew in the afternoon after children get out of regular public school classes, or they may be day-schools, offering the Jewish equivalent of a parochial school curriculum, with religious studies and secular studies filling the school day. Some synagogue schools also include adult-ed classes.
The synagogue is a place of worship and is sometimes also used for assembly or Jewish social functions.
The house of prayer used by Jews is known as a synagogue.
To hold the Torah scroll in the synagogue.
A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. It is also sometimes called a temple. Instead of an altar the synagogue has a Bimah. A typical synagogue will offer Hebrew classes and is also used for social gatherings.
A synagogue is the place where a Jew preys to God. A synagogue is a temple, just like a mosque or a church. A synagogue is led by a rabbi (Jewish priest) and the service often involves preyers in Hebrew.
The Ark in a Synagogue is an intricately decorated cabinet used for storing the Torah scrolls - the Jewish holy scripture. It is placed so that it is facing the city of Jerusalem and is one of the most important standard objects in the Synagogue.
The pointer a person uses in a synagogue is called a Yad. They use it to read from the Torah. It is also used during Bar Mitzvahs.
The Hebrew word 'Shoah' means 'catastrophe' and is used by Jews to refer to the Holocaust. The word Shoah is not found in every synagogue.
A synagogue is a house of prayer. It is often, but not always, also used for Torah-classes. Occasionally, it may be used as a place of public meeting or for certain social functions.
Most synagogues are used everyday, some are only used on Saturday or on holidays.
Usually a synagogue will have a billboard or signage indicating it is a synagogue.
Yes, Biblical Hebrew (which is not all that different from Modern Hebrew) is used in EVERY synagogue in Israel, as well as every synagogue outside Israel. But it's not used for speaking.Only Modern Hebrew is used for speaking.