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Synagogue Information Sheet

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
23 views2 pages

Synagogue Information Sheet

Uploaded by

Latoya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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The Synagogue

A synagogue is the building where Jews go to


worship G-d. The building is also used as the place
where Jewish children are taught about their
religion and learn Hebrew. Hebrew is the language
in which the Jewish Scriptures are written, so
it’s important to understand it.
Inside a Synagogue
In front of the Ark is a lamp called the Ner Tamid, otherwise
known as the ‘Eternal Light’. It hangs above the ark in every
synagogue and is a Symbol of G-d’s eternal and imminent
presence in our communities and lives. It’s NEVER turned off!!!!!

The Ark (Aran Ha-Kodesh) is the most important part of the


Synagogue. It is a special cupboard always at the front of the
main room where the scrolls are kept

The Scrolls are a book made from parchment or animal skin


which is kept in the Ark. They are precious because the TORAH
is written on them. When a scroll is going to be read in a
synagogue service it is taken out of the ARK, but it is never
touched with hands and a special pointer called a yad is used
to follow and read the words.

The Bimah – Reading Desk is a raised platform in the centre of


the synagogue. It shows that the Torah must be at the centre
of Jewish Life and that it is the heart of the Jewish people

The Menorah is the symbol of the nation of Israel. It is


one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith and is
traditionally a 7 branched candle holder. A 9 branched
menorah is used on Chanukah to commemorate a days
worth of oil lasting 8 days

Worship in a Synagogue
The Synagogue
For Jews, worship means praying to G-d and thanking him for the things he has
done and asking for his help in their lives. They believe that worshipping G-d is
very important.

Jews don’t believe that they can only worship G-d if they are in the synagogue.
They worship Him in other places too. As they enter a synagogue, Jews wash
their hands as a symbol to make them fit for prayer and a sign of respect. Both
men and women will usually cover their heads as a sign of respect.

Special Clothes
At services in the synagogue, men wear a kippah.
It is a skull cap which is often beautifully embroidered
and is worn as a sign of respect for G-d.

At morning services, they also wear a tallit. A tallit is


a prayer robe usually made of silk or wool. It has a
fringe and tassels at the ends to represent the 613
commandments given to Moses by G-d. “The
tassels will serve as reminders, and each time you
see them you will remember all my commands and
obey them; then you will not turn away from me and
follow your own wishes and desires. The tassels will
remind you to keep all my commands, and you will
belong completely to me." (Numbers 15 : 38 - 40)

In Orthodox synagogues, men wear two small black leather


boxes with straps called tefillin, as well as the tallit and
kippah. They contain small pieces of parchment which has
short quotations from the scriptures written on it. One box
is worn on the middle of the forehead which reminds Jews
that they must love God with all their mind. They also wear
one on the arm facing their heart which reminds Jews to love
G-d with all their heart.

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