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.)

Famous synagogues

Old New Synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic, is the oldest synagogue in Europe dating from the 13th century. (1574 synagogues were damaged or destroyed on Kristallnacht by Nazis in Germany and Austria, including many of the greatest synagogues of Europe.)

Related Topics:
Old New Synagogue - Prague - Czech Republic - Europe - Kristallnacht - Nazi - Germany - Austria

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The Paradesi Synagogue in the old city of Kochi, Kerala State, India, dates from 1568.

Related Topics:
Paradesi Synagogue - Kochi - Kerala - India - 1568

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The Bevis Marks Synagogue, in the City of London, is the oldest continually functioning synagogue in the world. Founded by Sephardi Jews in 1701, it has functioned 'without let or hindrance' ever since.

Related Topics:
Bevis Marks Synagogue - City of London - Sephardi - 1701

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The Snoa Synagogue in Willemstad, Curaçao, Netherland Antilles is the oldest synagogue still standing and in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. It was originally built by the Sephardic Congregation Mikvé Israel in 1692 and was reconstructed in 1732.

Related Topics:
Snoa Synagogue - Willemstad - Curaçao - Netherland Antilles - Western Hemisphere - Mikvé Israel - 1692 - 1732

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The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island is the oldest Jewish house of worship in North America. It was built in 1759 for the Jeshuat Israel congregation, which had existed since 1658.

Related Topics:
Touro Synagogue - Newport - Rhode Island - North America - 1759 - 1658

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In Israel and regions of the Diaspora there are many archaeological ruins of synagogues from thousands of years ago. The small ruined synagogue at Masada is one of the most well documented that dates from the time of the Second Temple, though synagogues were discovered in Egypt and on the island of Delos which predate the synagogue at Masada.

Related Topics:
Israel - Diaspora - Masada - Second Temple - Egypt - Delos

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The largest synagogue in the world is Temple Emanu-El on Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA with an area of 3,523 sq m.

Related Topics:
Temple Emanu-El - Fifth Avenue - New York City

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Other large synagogues are the Great Synagogues on King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel; Dohány Street Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary; and the Great Synagogue in Plzeň, Czech Republic.

Related Topics:
Great Synagogues on King George Street - Jerusalem - Dohány Street Synagogue - Budapest - Hungary - Great Synagogue - Plzeň

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