Synagogue Services Significant practices in the life of adherents

To pray is to take notice of the wonder, to regain a sense of mystery that animates all being, the Devine margin in all attainments. Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living. (Abraham Joshua Heschel) The Torah is central to the practices of Judaism Jewish worship is the opportunity to connect with God The synagogue is considered to be the house of prayer, a meeting house and a house of learning. The modern synagogue combines in its physical structure and in its prayers and ceremonies, the memory of such places in the history of Judaism.

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. Segregation In Orthodox synagogues men and women sit separately, and everyone (except young girls) has their head covered. In a Reform synagogue men and women can sit together.

Prayer within community is very important Certain prayers can only be intoned within the presence of a minyan (a group of 10 adults over the age of 13). Jews do not have to attend a synagogue to pray

Synagogue services can be led by a rabbi, a cantor or a member of the congregation. Orthodox services are traditionally in Hebrew and Progressive services contain more English. In Orthodox synagogues men and women sit separately, and everyone (except young girls) has their head covered. In a Reform synagogue men and women can sit together. Prayer services are held 3 times a day, morning afternoon and evening each follows the tradition of one of the patriarchs The most important day of the week is the Shabbat which brings with it extra services.

There are 2 basic synagogue traditions: Ashkenazi (referring to the practices of Jews from central, eastern and western Europe and their descendants) And Sephardi (referring to the practices of Jews from Spain and the Mediterranean and their descendants)

The services may have different tunes and pronunciations of certain words but the prayers and generally the same. Orthodox Judaism requires men to pray 3 times daily and 4 times on the Sabbath and most Jewish holidays. Orthodox women are required to pray daily with no specific time requirement. Progressive communities regard prayer times as a matter of personal spiritual decision. Proper concentration and intent are required for prayer. “All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like You?” (Psalm 35:10)

An Orthodox Synagogue

All synagogues contain the following basic items… Aron Kodesh (holy ark) a cabinet in which the Torah Scrolls are kept. This is generally set to face the direction of Jerusalem.

Ner Tamid (eternal light): a lamp directly above the holy ark which burns continually. Bimah:a platform from which the Torah is read and prayers are led.

Clothing during worship Hats and prayer shawls Everyone except unmarried women wears a hat in synagogue in order to show reverence to God. (And once unmarried women pass a certain age they usually wear a hat too.) Jewish men always wear hats when they are saying prayers which mention God's name. Observant Jewish men wear a hat almost all the time. The most common hat for men in the synagogue is a small round cap called a yarmulke (Yiddish) or a kippah (Hebrew), but an ordinary homburg or street hat will be accepted.

Adult men (i.e. those over the age of 13) often wear a Tallit or prayer shawl for morning prayer. A Tallit has fringes (called tzitzit) on the edges to remind the wearer to observe God's commandments - as commanded by God in the Bible. There are several times in synagogue services when people kiss these fringes - for example when the tzitzit are mentioned.

Significance… Prayer is the pathway to God, it is the way to know God and change self. Synagogue Service is the way for adherents to connect with their history and traditions and community Praying within community brings with it a collective responsibility that all are responsible for each other and sharing the same purpose.