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The word is derived from a German word meaning "school," and emphasizes the synagogue's role as a place of study. Conservative Jews usually use the word "synagogue," which is actually a Greek translation of Beit K'nesset and means "place of assembly" it's related to the word "synod". Reform Jews use the word "temple," because they consider every one of their meeting places to be equivalent to, or a replacement for, The Temple in Jerusalem. The use of the word "temple" to describe modern houses of prayer offends some traditional Jews, because it trivializes the importance of The Temple.
The word "shul," on the other hand, is unfamiliar to many modern Jews. When in doubt, the word "synagogue" is the best bet, because everyone knows what it means, and I've never known anyone to be offended by it. At a minimum, a synagogue is a beit tefilah, a house of prayer. It is the place where Jews come together for community prayer services. Jews can satisfy the obligations of daily prayer by praying anywhere; however, there are certain prayers that can only be said in the presence of a minyan a quorum of 10 adult men , and tradition teaches that there is more merit to praying with a group than there is in praying alone.
The sanctity of the synagogue for this purpose is second only to The Temple.
In fact, in rabbinical literature, the synagogue is sometimes referred to as the "little Temple. A synagogue is usually also a beit midrash, a house of study.
Contrary to popular belief, Jewish education does not end at the age of bar mitzvah. For the observant Jew, the study of sacred texts is a life-long task. Thus, a synagogue normally has a well-stocked library of sacred Jewish texts for members of the community to study. It is also the place where children receive their basic religious education.
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Most synagogues also have a social hall for religious and non-religious activities. The synagogue often functions as a sort of town hall where matters of importance to the community can be discussed. In addition, the synagogue functions as a social welfare agency, collecting and dispensing money and other items for the aid of the poor and needy within the community.
Synagogues are, for the most part, independent community organizations. In the United States, at least, individual synagogues do not answer to any central authority. There are central organizations for the various movements of Judaism, and synagogues are often affiliated with these organizations, but these organizations have no real power over individual synagogues. Synagogues are generally run by a board of directors composed of lay people. They manage and maintain the synagogue and its activities, and hire a rabbi and chazzan cantor for the community.
Yes, you read that right: Jewish clergy are employees of the synagogue, hired and fired by the lay members of the synagogue. Clergy are not provided by any central organization, as they are in some denominations of Christianity.
However, if a synagogue hires a rabbi or chazzan that is not acceptable to the central organization, they may lose membership in that central organization. For example, if an Orthodox synagogue hires a Reform rabbi, the synagogue will lose membership in the Orthodox Union. The rabbi usually works with a ritual committee made up of lay members of the synagogue to set standards and procedures for the synagogue.
Not surprisingly, there can be tension between the rabbi and the membership his employers if they do not have the same standards, for example if the membership wants to serve pepperoni pizza not kosher at a synagogue event.
It is worth noting that a synagogue can exist without a rabbi or a chazzan: It is not unusual for a synagogue to be without a rabbi, at least temporarily, and many synagogues, particularly smaller ones, have no chazzan. However, the rabbi and chazzan are valuable members of the community, providing leadership, guidance and education. Synagogues do not pass around collection plates during services, as many churches do.
This is largely because Jewish law prohibits carrying money on holidays and Shabbat. Tzedakah charitable donation is routinely collected at weekday morning services, usually through a centrally-located pushke , but this money is usually given to charity, and not used for synagogue expenses. Instead, synagogues are financed through membership dues paid annually, through voluntary donations, through the purchase of reserved seats for services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the holidays when the synagogue is most crowded , and through the purchase of various types of memorial plaques.
It is important to note, however, that you do not have to be a member of a synagogue in order to worship there. If you plan to worship at a synagogue regularly and you have the financial means, you should certainly pay your dues to cover your fair share of the synagogue's costs, but no synagogue checks membership cards at the door except possibly on the High Holidays mentioned above, if there aren't enough seats for everyone.
The portion of the synagogue where prayer services are performed is commonly called the sanctuary.
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Synagogues in the United States are generally designed so that the front of the sanctuary is on the side towards Jerusalem, which is the direction that we are supposed to face when reciting certain prayers. Probably the most important feature of the sanctuary is the Ark, a cabinet or recession in the wall that holds the Torah scrolls. The Ark is also called the Aron Kodesh "holy cabinet" , and I was once told that the term "ark" is an acrostic of "aron kodesh," although someone else told me that "ark" is just an old word for a chest. In any case, the word has no relation to Noah's Ark, which is the word "teyvat" in Hebrew.
The Ark is generally placed in the front of the room; that is, on the side towards Jerusalem. The Ark has doors as well as an inner curtain called a parokhet. This curtain is in imitation of the curtain in the Sanctuary in The Temple, and is named for it. Opening or closing the doors or curtain is performed by a member of the congregation, and is considered an honor.
All congregants stand when the Ark is open. In front of and slightly above the Ark, you will find the ner tamid, the Eternal Lamp.
This lamp symbolizes the commandment to keep a light burning in the Tabernacle outside of the curtain surrounding the Ark of the Covenant. I like the way the author began her story saying that God has a purpose for everyone. Then she showed how people came into her life that would eventually help her fulfill that purpose. It's amazing how the Lord used her son who is AIDS free to get her to church, then the rest is history. It's an incredible story full of miracles and blessings. The book gives a great deal of biblical reference to help a Jew or Gentile come to know Christ.
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