A synagogue is a place of Jewish worship. In addition to housing a sanctuary for services, synagogues (most notably Chabad centers) serve as the centerpoint of Jewish life.

Synagogues are consecrated spaces used for Jewish prayer, study, assembly, and reading of the Torah (read in its entirety once a year, or in some synagogues on a triennial cycle, in weekly Torah portions during religious services).

Synagogue Prayers Are Best Said with Ten Jews. Jews during hearfelt prayers, joined in a minyan, a quorom of 10 Jewish men. Certain prayers and rituals—such as Kaddish and the reading of the Torah —can only take place in the presence of 10 males, 13 years of age or older. This is known as a minyan.

A discussion of Jewish places of worship, including modern synagogues and the Temple of ancient times.

Jewish prayer takes place in the synagogue three times every day—morning, afternoon and evening—as well as on Shabbat and holidays. Lifecycle events typically take place in the synagogue, including brit milah (circumcision), bar mitzvah and aufruf.

Jan 29, 2025 · synagogue, in Judaism, a community house of worship that serves as a place not only for liturgical services but also for assembly and study. Its traditional functions are reflected in three Hebrew synonyms for synagogue: bet ha-tefilla (“house of prayer”), bet ha-kneset (“house of assembly”), and bet ha-midrash (“house of study”).

Mar 24, 2019 · Learn more about the Jewish house of worship, the synagogue, from the bimah where the rabbi conducts services, to the ark where the Torah is kept.

Today, it is easy to gather a great deal of information regarding local synagogues without leaving your home. The first step is to find the names and locations of local shuls. You can also check the website of your local Jewish federation (if one exists) or search the Internet for “synagogue” plus your hometown and state.

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.

Synagogues can be found virtually wherever there are Jews and have been in use since the Babylonian exile. Find a synagogue service near you.