jewish temples

12 Things To Know About the Temple in Jerusalem

On Tisha B’Av, Jews mourn the destruction of the Temple. But how much do you know about what it was really like?

How to Find the Right Synagogue for You

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

50 Questions to Ask When Shul-Shopping

What to look for when joining a synagogue.

Mechitzah: Separate Seating in the Synagogue

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

Entering a Synagogue

Tips for the novice shul-goer.

The Cantor’s Role Then and Now

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

Synagogue Architecture Requirements

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.

Synagogues Instead of Cathedrals

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

Pre-Modern Synagogue Architecture and Interior Design

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

Respect in the Synagogue

Rabbinic restrictions on behavior in the synagogue reveal continuing tension between ordinary Jews' sense of being at home and at ease there, and the desire of rabbis to set it apart as a sacred place.