Worship, Prayer and the Law
The Synagogue: Centre of Jewish Life
The synagogue is the heart of Jewish communal life. The Hebrew word means “house of assembly,” and synagogues serve as places for worship, Torah study, education and social support. Although the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE, the prophet Ezekiel had already described G‑d as a “little sanctuary” for the people in exile (Ezekiel 11:16), giving religious authority to local places of prayer far from the Temple.
On entering a synagogue, worshippers face the eastern wall, oriented towards Jerusalem, the direction of prayer. The building’s design communicates core Jewish beliefs through its artefacts and layout.
Every synagogue contains four essential interior features: the Ark (Aron Kodesh) housing the Torah scrolls; the Bimah (raised reading platform); the Ner Tamid (Eternal Light); and the Sefer Torah (handwritten Torah scroll). A Mikveh (ritual immersion pool) is an important communal facility but is a separate building, not part of the synagogue interior itself.
Features and Their Significance
The Ark stands at the front of the synagogue and is treated with great reverence. Congregants rise when it is opened, reflecting the belief that the Torah is the Word of G‑d. Above or near the Ark burns the Ner Tamid, a lamp that never goes out. This recalls the menorah that burned perpetually in the ancient Temple and symbolises G‑d’s eternal presence with the Jewish people.
The Bimah stands in the centre or at the front. The Torah is carried from the Ark to the Bimah in a procession, and congregants may touch the Sefer Torah with their prayer book or tallit as it passes — a sign of reverence. The Torah is then unrolled and chanted aloud using a pointer called a yad, so the sacred text is never touched directly by bare fingers.
Synagogues have no images or statues of G‑d or humans because Jewish law (based on Exodus 20:4) forbids representations of G‑d. This distinguishes synagogue interiors from churches and reflects the belief that G‑d is beyond all human representation. Stained glass may include geometric patterns or Hebrew lettering, but never human or divine figures.
In an Orthodox synagogue, men and women sit separately — women in a gallery or behind a partition called the mechitzah. Services are conducted entirely in Hebrew, and only men may lead prayers. The Bimah is traditionally in the centre of the room.
In Reform synagogues, men and women sit together. English may be used alongside Hebrew, and women can lead services and become rabbis. The Bimah is usually at the front, more similar to a church layout. Both communities share the core artefacts — the Ark, Ner Tamid and Sefer Torah — but interpret how services are conducted very differently.
Prayer in Judaism
Prayer is central to Jewish worship. The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our G‑d, the Lord is one,” is the defining affirmation of Jewish faith and is recited morning and evening. Deuteronomy 10:12–13 commands Jews to serve G‑d “with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Jews traditionally pray three times a day: Shacharit (morning), Mincha (afternoon) and Ma’ariv (evening). These times echo the sacrifices offered in the ancient Temple. A minyan — a quorum of ten adult Jews — is traditionally required for communal prayer. In Orthodox communities, only men count towards a minyan; many Reform congregations count women too.
The Amidah (“the standing prayer”) is recited three times daily. It consists of nineteen blessings (in weekday form): praise of G‑d, petitions for needs such as health, sustenance and justice, and thanksgiving. Jews stand and face Jerusalem while saying it, and Orthodox Jews sway slightly (shuckling) as an expression of devotion.
Private prayer is also important. Jews may say tehillim (Psalms) spontaneously, recite the Shema before sleep, say Grace after meals (Birkat Hamazon), and offer personal prayers in their own words. Men in Orthodox communities wear a kippah (head covering) and use a tallit (prayer shawl) to show reverence before G‑d. Tefillin (small boxes containing Torah verses) are bound to the arm and forehead during morning prayer, following Deuteronomy 6:8.
Judaism is a domestic religion as much as a synagogue one. A mezuzah — a small scroll containing the Shema — is fixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes (based on Deuteronomy 6:9), reminding the household of G‑d’s presence. Shabbat candles are lit by the woman of the house on Friday evening, and blessings are recited over wine and bread (challah). Teaching children to pray at home is itself a religious duty, rooted in Deuteronomy 6:7: “Teach them diligently to your children.”
The Tenakh: Written Law
The Tenakh is the complete Hebrew Bible. Its name is an acronym from three sections: Torah (the five books of Moses), Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). In Judaism, the Torah holds the highest authority — it contains the laws given by G‑d to Moses at Sinai and forms the foundation of Jewish faith and practice.
The Sefer Torah is a handwritten copy of the Torah produced by a trained scribe. It is treated as the most sacred object in the synagogue: dressed in a velvet cover, adorned with silver ornaments, and carried in procession. The Chumash is the same text in printed book form, used for personal study.
The Talmud: Oral Law
The Talmud is the record of the Oral Law. Jewish tradition holds that G‑d gave Moses both the Written Torah and the oral explanations at Sinai. For centuries these interpretations were transmitted by memory; they were eventually compiled as the Mishnah (around 200 CE) and then the Gemara (discussions of the Mishnah), together forming the Talmud. The Talmud covers legal rulings, ethical guidance, and theological debate.
In synagogue worship, the Tenakh provides the scriptural readings that structure every service. The weekly Torah portion (parashah) is read on Shabbat mornings, Mondays and Thursdays. The Haftarah (a reading from Neviim) follows. The Talmud is studied continuously — many Jews follow the Daf Yomi cycle, studying one page per day. Together, the Written and Oral Law guide every aspect of Jewish life.