8.8 Features Of The Synagogue Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are examples of worship?
Shabbat services
Passover
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
What are examples of education?
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Talmudic school (yeshiva)
Hebrew lessons
What are examples of community?
Shabbat dinner
Minyan
Marriage
Festivals
What is the Star of David?
A visible symbol of Judaism
What do symbols in the synagogue symbolise?
Let light in
—> symbolises that worship doesn’t mean shutting off from the rest of the world
What are synagogues built facing?
Jerusalem
—> where the temple had originally been built
What is the Bimah?
A raised platform, usually in the centre, which has a desk for reading the Torah
Where is the synagogue service lead from?
The Bimah
What is the ark?
A cupboard fixed to the front wall
—> which contains the Torah scrolls
All seating faces towards the ark
When are the doors/curtains of the ark only opened?
When the Torah scrolls are taken out during worship or festival occasions
What is the Ner Tamid?
The “eternal light” is kept burning at all times in front of or above the ark
—> requirement set out in Exodus, “to kindle a lamp continually”
Why is the Ner Tamid light eternal?
To reflect that God is also eternal
What is the Menorah?
Some synagogues have an actual Menorah
—> but with 6 or 8 branches
—> as exact duplication of items from the temple is considered improper from Orthodox Jews
Why are prayers said in Orthodox Jew’s synagogues?
For the rebuilding of the temple and their return to the Holy land
What instruments may there be in Reform synagogues?
Piano, organ or band
Who can read from the Torah (Orthodox Jews)?
Only men
Who can read from the Torah (Reform Jews)?
Women (and men)
