Synagogue

A synagogue or synagog (from Greek συναγωγη, transliterated sunagoge, "place of assembly" literally "meeting, assembly") is a Jewish house of prayer and study. The Hebrew term for synagogue is Beit Knesset (House of Assembly) or Beit Tefila (House of Prayer). There are usually separate rooms for prayer (the main sanctuary) and smaller rooms for study. Rooms set aside for study are referred to as a "Beth midrash" (Hebrew, House of Study.)

Related Topics:
Greek - Transliterated - Jewish - Prayer - Hebrew - Beth midrash

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Communal prayer is an important feature of Judaism. Though prayers can be said anywhere (except in unhygienic or immodest environments), according to halakha Jews should—and men must—pray three times a day, ideally in a minyan, and a synagogue's primary purpose is typically to accommodate such communal prayer.

Related Topics:
Halakha - Jew - Minyan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Synagogues are not used only for prayer, but also for communal activities, adult education and Hebrew schools for school-age children, hence the common Yiddish term shul for synagogue, which comes from the Middle High German word for school. Portuguese Jews call it esnoga, which derives from "synagogue". Karaites tend to use the term Kenesa, which is derived from Aramaic. Further conveying the "town hall" etymology of the word is the Hebrew translation Beit Knesset (not to be confused with the Knesset) literally means "House of Assembly."

Related Topics:
Yiddish - Middle High German - Portuguese - Karaites - Kenesa - Aramaic - Town hall - Etymology - Hebrew - Knesset

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Typically a synagogue (especially in North America and in Europe) will have a dual leadership: a lay leadership comprising a committee and a president (or chairperson) who may be elected by all members, and a spiritual guide, a rabbi, usually appointed by the lay leadership. A rabbi is not essential and indeed many synagogues do not have one.

Related Topics:
North America - Europe - Rabbi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~