Sacred Space Judaism

Synagogue

In the early centuries BCE the Jerusalem Temple, constructed by King Solomon 400 years earlier, was considered to be the heart and soul of religious life for the Israelites. The Temple was destroyed around 586BCE and as a result the temple, priesthood and sacrificial systems of the religion had to change. The Temple was rebuilt but a new form of Judaism had emerged which centred on the synagogue. When the Temple was again destroyed in 70CE by the Romans, it was this form of rabbinic Judaism, with the synagogue as its base, that survived the destruction.

The words ‘synagogue’ is derived from the Greek for ‘gathering’ or ‘meeting’. It is a place where believers come together for a common purpose. The synagogue complex can be the venue for a range of activities and religious events such as bar mitzvahs, circumcisions, weddings, and meetings for justice groups.

The synagogue also plays an important role in the education of Jewish adults and children. A synagogue will often house a library and classrooms where religious education lessons are held. The primary purpose of the synagogue is though to provide a space for public and communal prayer.

Judaism is a “congregational religion that expects its adherents to express their faith not only as individuals but also as members of a community” (Gwynne, 2009, 327) Certain prayers are said at specified times in the synagogue and for some official prayers there must be a minyan which is the presence of 10 adult men. Most synagogues have prayer services three times a day – in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Main features of the Synagogue

Exterior Synagogues vary considerably depending on the culture and period in which they were constructed. The three forms of Judaism, Reform, Orthodox and Conservative, also have variations to the synagogue space. The unique elements of a synagogue though are found inside rather than outside the building.

Interior The most important item in a Jewish synagogue is the aron ha kodesh, or Holy Ark. The Ark is usually located on the wall pointing in the direction of Jerusalem, the holy city. As the name suggests, the aron ha kodesh houses the Torah scrolls. The Ark is a cabinet set into or mounted on the wall, which is then covered by a thick curtain known as a parokhet.

The Ark is usually the most lavishly adorned object in the synagogue, which reflects how precious the contents are to the Jewish people. Near the Ark is the ner tamid, or eternal flame, which burns constantly and reminds the congregation of the ongoing presence of G*d in the sacred space.

In Reform synagogues the bimah stands at the front, directly before the Ark and facing the congregation. A series of readings from the Torah scrolls are delivered from the bimah on Monday and Thursday mornings, as well as Saturday mornings and afternoons. Orthodox synagogues place the bimah at the very centre of the synagogue facing the Ark.

Orthodox synagogues also have a second lectern known as an amud, which is where the cantor stands and leads the singing. A major difference between the Reform and Orthodox tradition is the Gender segregation during worship. Orthodox synagogues have designated areas (mehitza) for men and women, divided by curtains or lattice, or even a balcony area. Synagogues in the Reform tradition removed the mehitza so there is no dividing barrier between men and women.

Orthodox and Reform synagogues both reflect the belief in Judaism that any attempt to depict the deity, or even sculptures of living creatures, are a form of idolatry. Synagogues are therefore decorated with images such as the Star of David, the menorah and the Tablets of the Law.

Virtual tours http://www.chabad.org/generic_cdo/aid/365929/jewish/The-Synagogue.htm http://www.gojerusalem.com/article_1192/The-Great-Synagogue---Virtual-Tour http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/re/m_parry_carmarthenshire/addoldai/synagog/synagogtwo.html http://www.theus.org.uk/public/virtual-tours/cen_synagogue/US_US_cen.html

Brisbane synagogues Beit Knesset Shalom Brisbane (Progressive Synagogue) 13 Koolatah St. CAMP HILL Ph 07-33988843 http://www.bks.org.au/ Brisbane Hebrew Congregation 98 Margaret Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Phone:(07) 3229 3412 President: John Goldman Secretary: Mark "Mordi" Gross Email mordibhc@computherapy.com.au

Reference Gwynne, Paul. World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, MA, 2009