Jewish Synagogues

What you need to consider as you go "shul shopping."

What to look for when joining a synagogue.

A curtain or other divider separates men and women while they pray in some synagogues.

Tips for the novice shul-goer.

Cantors today, as in the past, must balance the demands of tradition with the evolving needs of a community.

Jewish law may make no requirements or restrictions about architectural form, but one prominent 18th century rabbi issued a warning about copying the styles of the rich and famous.

Dispersion and uncertainty discouraged Jews from investing in cathedral-like synagogues, but they found a substitute in another dimension.

Synagogues share certain functional interior furnishings, but there is no architectural design or artistic style that characterizes a synagogue.

The traditional rabbinate harks back to ancient practice, but is an evolving institution.