Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department
Revision- Judaism Practices rabbi and a pulpit where sermons are
delivered.
Importance of the Synagogue
The Ark (Aron Hakodesh)- this is
This is the place where Jewish the holiest place in the Synagogue.
people meet for prayer, worship and They believed that the original ark
study. They believe that any prayer contained stone tablet s that God
can only take place where there are S
gave to Moses at Sinai. In
at least 10 adults. -
minyar Synagogues, Jews are reminded of
Synagogues are usually rectangular the original ark. It is at the front of
shaped but there are no specific the Synagogue facing Jerusalem.
rules about its size and decoration. There are usually steps up to the
It is common for there to be a stain- Ark to remind them that God and
glassed window representing the the Torah are more important and
Star of David. sacred. The ark is only opened during
The synagogue is the central point special prayers and when it’s read
for life as a Jewish community- it is during services.
where many rites of passages take Ever-Burning Light (Ner Tamid)-
place. This symbolises God’s presence and a
It is important as a place of study -
Shol reminder of the Menorah that was
e.g. it is where a young boy/girl will lit every night in the Temple.
learn Hebrew and study the Torah in Reading Platform (bimah)- This is a
preparation for their bar/bat raised platform which is usually in
mitzvahs. the very centre- it is used for
Questions: reading from the Torah and becomes
the focus of worship.
1. What is a minyan?
2. Why is the Star of David important? Links to Scripture and Teaching
3. Why are there no images of God? Exodus 40: 21- Moses puts the ark
What commandment would into the tabernacle and seals it off
representing God break? with a curtain as God had
4. Why are the names ‘shul’ or temple’ commanded him.
also used to refer to a synagogue?
Questions
5. Give examples of the rites of
passages that happen in Judaism. 1. What is kept in the ark?
2. What was written on the stones God
Interior Features of the Synagogue
gave to Moses?
Prayer Hall- The seats usually face 3. Why is it important that the
towards the bimah (where the Torah Synagogue face Jerusalem?
is read). One side has a focal point
Worship in Orthodox and Reform
of the ark. There is a chair for the
Synagogues
, Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department
Orthodox- The Tallit is a prayer shawl with long
o The person leading the service tassels at each corner to remind
will have their back to the them that they are obeying God’s
congregation and face the ark. word when they wear it.
o The service is conducted in The tefillin are a pair of black
Hebrew and singing is leather boxes that hold passages of
unaccompanied. scripture. One is fastened to the
o Men and women sit separately centre of the forehead and the
so that a greater connection other is wound around the upper arm
with God can be in line with the heart. This is to
achieved. remind them that their
o Rabbis are all male. concentration should be on God and
o Men cover their head their prayers come from the heart.
with a kippah as a sign Format of Services- prayer is
of respect to God. important as it helps to build a
Reform- relationship with God. In Orthodox
o They may not hold daily Synagogues prayer is held every
services but only celebrate morning, afternoon, and evening.
Shabbat and festivals. These prayers are taken from a book
o Men and women sit together. called the Siddur. The opening
o Women can perform all rituals prayer is a series of psalms and
that a man can e.g. being a prayers giving thanks to God. The
cantor or being part of the Shema is also said.
minyan. Amidah- this is the ‘standing prayer’
o Services are conducted in and is made up of 19 blessings.
both Hebrew and the language o The first 3 praise God and
of their country. inspire the worshipper to ask
for mercy.
Questions
o The middle 13 blessings are
1. What are Orthodox Jews? What do prayers that ask for God’s
they believe? help-6 personal requests, 6
2. What are Reformed Jews? What do requests for the community
they believe? and a final prayer that God
3. What is a cantor? accepts them.
4. What is the minyan? o The final 3 blessings thank
Daily Services and Prayer God for the opportunity to
serve him and prayer for
Tallit and Tefillin- During prayer peace, goodness, kindness and
Orthodox men will wear these items compassion.
and in Reform Judaism some women
will wear these as well. Links to Scripture and Teaching
Revision- Judaism Practices rabbi and a pulpit where sermons are
delivered.
Importance of the Synagogue
The Ark (Aron Hakodesh)- this is
This is the place where Jewish the holiest place in the Synagogue.
people meet for prayer, worship and They believed that the original ark
study. They believe that any prayer contained stone tablet s that God
can only take place where there are S
gave to Moses at Sinai. In
at least 10 adults. -
minyar Synagogues, Jews are reminded of
Synagogues are usually rectangular the original ark. It is at the front of
shaped but there are no specific the Synagogue facing Jerusalem.
rules about its size and decoration. There are usually steps up to the
It is common for there to be a stain- Ark to remind them that God and
glassed window representing the the Torah are more important and
Star of David. sacred. The ark is only opened during
The synagogue is the central point special prayers and when it’s read
for life as a Jewish community- it is during services.
where many rites of passages take Ever-Burning Light (Ner Tamid)-
place. This symbolises God’s presence and a
It is important as a place of study -
Shol reminder of the Menorah that was
e.g. it is where a young boy/girl will lit every night in the Temple.
learn Hebrew and study the Torah in Reading Platform (bimah)- This is a
preparation for their bar/bat raised platform which is usually in
mitzvahs. the very centre- it is used for
Questions: reading from the Torah and becomes
the focus of worship.
1. What is a minyan?
2. Why is the Star of David important? Links to Scripture and Teaching
3. Why are there no images of God? Exodus 40: 21- Moses puts the ark
What commandment would into the tabernacle and seals it off
representing God break? with a curtain as God had
4. Why are the names ‘shul’ or temple’ commanded him.
also used to refer to a synagogue?
Questions
5. Give examples of the rites of
passages that happen in Judaism. 1. What is kept in the ark?
2. What was written on the stones God
Interior Features of the Synagogue
gave to Moses?
Prayer Hall- The seats usually face 3. Why is it important that the
towards the bimah (where the Torah Synagogue face Jerusalem?
is read). One side has a focal point
Worship in Orthodox and Reform
of the ark. There is a chair for the
Synagogues
, Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department
Orthodox- The Tallit is a prayer shawl with long
o The person leading the service tassels at each corner to remind
will have their back to the them that they are obeying God’s
congregation and face the ark. word when they wear it.
o The service is conducted in The tefillin are a pair of black
Hebrew and singing is leather boxes that hold passages of
unaccompanied. scripture. One is fastened to the
o Men and women sit separately centre of the forehead and the
so that a greater connection other is wound around the upper arm
with God can be in line with the heart. This is to
achieved. remind them that their
o Rabbis are all male. concentration should be on God and
o Men cover their head their prayers come from the heart.
with a kippah as a sign Format of Services- prayer is
of respect to God. important as it helps to build a
Reform- relationship with God. In Orthodox
o They may not hold daily Synagogues prayer is held every
services but only celebrate morning, afternoon, and evening.
Shabbat and festivals. These prayers are taken from a book
o Men and women sit together. called the Siddur. The opening
o Women can perform all rituals prayer is a series of psalms and
that a man can e.g. being a prayers giving thanks to God. The
cantor or being part of the Shema is also said.
minyan. Amidah- this is the ‘standing prayer’
o Services are conducted in and is made up of 19 blessings.
both Hebrew and the language o The first 3 praise God and
of their country. inspire the worshipper to ask
for mercy.
Questions
o The middle 13 blessings are
1. What are Orthodox Jews? What do prayers that ask for God’s
they believe? help-6 personal requests, 6
2. What are Reformed Jews? What do requests for the community
they believe? and a final prayer that God
3. What is a cantor? accepts them.
4. What is the minyan? o The final 3 blessings thank
Daily Services and Prayer God for the opportunity to
serve him and prayer for
Tallit and Tefillin- During prayer peace, goodness, kindness and
Orthodox men will wear these items compassion.
and in Reform Judaism some women
will wear these as well. Links to Scripture and Teaching
