What is a synagogue facts for kids?

A synagogue is a place of worship for people of the Jewish religion. Jews also use synagogues as places to meet and study. Synagogues have played an important role in preserving the Jewish religion and culture throughout history. A synagogue is sometimes called a temple or a shul, which is a Yiddish word.

How old is the synagogue?

The oldest dated evidence of a synagogue is from the 3rd century bce, but synagogues doubtless have an older history.

What was the purpose of the synagogue?

A synagogue is a space for worship and prayer. Jews believe it is good to pray together, but there must be a minimum of ten people present for certain prayers to be said. This is called a minyan . The synagogue is an important centre for Jewish communities where meetings take place and social gatherings happen.

What is the synagogue religion?

The synagogue is the Jewish place of worship, but is also used as a place to study, and often as a community centre as well. Orthodox Jews often use the Yiddish word shul (pronounced shool) to refer to their synagogue. In the USA, synagogues are often called temples.

How old is the oldest synagogue in Israel?

Modi’in synagogue (2nd century BCE) Discovered between Modi’in and Latrun is the oldest synagogue within modern Israel that has been found to date, built during the second century BCE. It includes three rooms and a nearby mikve. For the nearby Qiryat Sefer/Modi’in Illit synagogue (1st century BCE), see here and here.

What are the seats in a synagogue called?

Separate seating in synagogue. A mechitza most commonly means the physical divider placed between the men’s and women’s sections in Orthodox synagogues and at religious celebrations.

What Colour is the Star of David?

blue star
The Star of David appears on synagogues, Jewish tombstones and the flag of the State of Israel. What colour is the Star of David? The Star of David is a blue star against a white background.

What is the oldest structure in Israel?

Modi’in synagogue (2nd century BCE) Discovered between Modi’in and Latrun is the oldest synagogue within modern Israel that has been found to date, built during the second century BCE. It includes three rooms and a nearby mikve.

What is the difference between a synagogue and a church?

As nouns the difference between church and synagogue is that church is (countable) a christian house of worship; a building where religious services take place while synagogue is a place where jews meet for worship.

How old is a synagogue?

The oldest dated evidence of a synagogue is from the 3rd century bce, but synagogues doubtless have an older history. Some scholars think that the destruction of Solomon’s Temple of Jerusalem in 586 bce gave rise to synagogues after private homes were temporarily used for public worship and religious instruction.

What is a synagogue called?

Inside the synagogue The synagogue is the Jewish place of worship, but is also used as a place to study, and often as a community centre as well. Orthodox Jews often use the Yiddish word shul (pronounced shool) to refer to their synagogue. In the USA, synagogues are often called temples.

What is so significant about synagogues?

The synagogue is the central point for life as a Jewish community- it is where many rites of passages take place. It is important as a place of study e.g. it is where a young boy/girl will learn Hebrew and study the Torah in preparation for their bar/bat mitzvahs.

What is the most important thing in a synagogue?

The Aron Hakodesh, often known as the ark, is the most important place inside all synagogues. The Aron Hakodesh is where the Torah scroll is kept. The ark is usually wooden and has the features of a cupboard, and will often have a curtain or door.

What is the most important place in a synagogue?

The Ark is reminiscent of the Ark of the Covenant, which held the tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. This is the holiest spot in a synagogue, equivalent to the Holy of Holies. The Ark is often closed with an ornate curtain, the parochet פרוכת‎, which hangs outside or inside the ark doors.

What happens in a synagogue?

A synagogue is a place of worship , gathering and education about the Jewish faith. On the outside of the building there is a Star of David and often a menorah . The main prayers happen in the prayer hall, which is usually rectangular with seats on three sides facing inwards.

What is a synagogue in the Bible?

Synagogues are consecrated spaces used for the purpose of prayer, reading of the Tanakh (the entire Hebrew Bible, including the Torah), study and assembly; however, a synagogue is not necessary for Jewish worship. Worship can also be carried out alone or with fewer than ten people assembled.

What do you need to know about synagogues for kids?

Synagogue facts for kids. A synagogue is a place where Jews meet to worship and pray to God. In Hebrew, a synagogue is called beit knesset, which means, a “house of gathering”. The word “synagogue” comes from sunagoge, which is a Greek word.

What is the meaning of the word synagogue?

A synagogue is a place where Jews meet to worship and pray to God. In Hebrew, a synagogue is called beit knesset, which means, a “house of gathering”. The word “synagogue” comes from sunagoge, which is a Greek word. In a synagogue, Jews do the Jewish services, which are prayers, sometimes with special actions.

What kind of House of worship is a synagogue?

Alternative Title: synagog. Synagogue, also spelled synagog, in Judaism, a community house of worship that serves as a place not only for liturgical services but also for assembly and study.

When was the first synagogue in the world?

The origins of the Jewish synagogue, both as a building and a gathering of people [1], are obscure and undocumented. The time of its beginning has been diversely dated in a range from the ninth century BCE to the first century BCE (Levine, 2000:20).