synagogue
Rabbi's worship place
A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship and community gathering.
Unlike a temple, which historically referred to the central sanctuary in Jerusalem, synagogues serve local congregations for prayer, study, and social functions.
The building typically contains a sanctuary with an ark holding Torah scrolls: The congregation met at the synagogue for Shabbat services.
Judaism's core scripture
- rabbiJewish spiritual leader
- mitzvahJewish law commandment
- TalmudRabbinic law compilation
- HebrewSemitic language of Israel
kosher · kippah · yarmulke · tallit · mezuzah · menorah · Kabbalah · commandments
Protected sacred space
- bimahSynagogue's central platform
- arkLarge rescue vessel
- aron kodeshSynagogue Torah repository
- eternal lightUnending luminous presence
stained glass · dome · Star of David · menorah · pews · balcony · vestibule · social hall
Address to deity
- minyanJewish prayer quorum
- shabbatJewish weekly rest day
- siddurJewish daily worship text
- cantorLiturgical music leader
shofar · aliyah · tefillin · bimah · ark · pews · congregation · sermon
Assembled group of worshippers
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- membershipState of belonging
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- sisterhoodBond among women
youth group · Hebrew school · bar mitzvah · bat mitzvah · lifecycle · shiva · kiddush · potluck
Jewish day of rest
- PassoverFestival of liberation
- HanukkahEight-day Jewish celebration
- Rosh HashanahJewish calendar's start
- Yom KippurAnnual Jewish atonement observance
Sukkot · Purim · Shavuot · Pesach · High Holy Days · seder · fasting · Selichot
Torah
Judaism's core scripture
Hebrew · kosher · kippah · yarmulke · tallit · mezuzah · menorah · Kabbalah · commandments · observance
sanctuary
Protected sacred space
- bimahSynagogue's central platform
- arkLarge rescue vessel
- aron kodeshSynagogue Torah repository
eternal light · stained glass · dome · Star of David · menorah · pews · balcony · vestibule · social hall · mikvah
prayer
Address to deity
cantor · shofar · aliyah · tefillin · bimah · ark · pews · congregation · sermon · havdalah
congregation
Assembled group of worshippers
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- membershipState of belonging
- brotherhoodKinship among men
sisterhood · youth group · Hebrew school · bar mitzvah · bat mitzvah · lifecycle · shiva · kiddush · potluck · fundraising
Shabbat
Jewish day of rest
- PassoverFestival of liberation
- HanukkahEight-day Jewish celebration
- Rosh HashanahJewish calendar's start
Yom Kippur · Sukkot · Purim · Shavuot · Pesach · High Holy Days · seder · fasting · Selichot · megillah
diaspora
Scattered population sharing origins
tradition · genealogy · legacy · customs · folklore · preservation · Ladino · Yiddish · shtetl · assimilation
- JudaismShabbat, kosher, Passover, Torah, Hanukkah
- gathering placescommunity center, community centers, community halls, assembly halls, civic centers
- religious buildingsabbey, ashram, basilica, chapel, convent
- sacred buildingschurch, temple, mosque, cathedral, chapel
- worship placeschurch, temple, mosque, chapel, cathedral
- Jewish cultureTorah, rabbi, rabbis, kosher, Hebrew
synagoguecourthouse
Legal proceedings venue
shopping mall · civic center · nightclub · casino · bar
- synagogue serviceJewish communal prayer gathering
synagogues, synagogue-goer, synagogue-going, synagogue-goers