Concept in Definition ABC

A synagogue is the space where Jewish believers attend to celebrate religious ceremonies but it is also a prayer center, to those faithful who want to approach God through prayer, and it is also used as a meeting place to discuss the Jewish religion and in order to learn more about her, especially when it comes to teaching kids.

The oldest religious institution

The synagogue is the equivalent of the church for Christians and its name comes from the Greek, the language in which it means "meeting place". Regarding its origin, there are many documents and sources that lead us to consider the synagogue as one of the institutions oldest religious structures in the universe, which of course is ahead of the Church in age. The oldest are in Israel, although of course, the Jewish community is vast throughout the world and then it is possible to find these holy places in all countries.
References to synagogues abound in the Bible, a fact that of course confirms that millennial presence.

It has rooms where religion is studied and common prayer spaces

Despite being comparable to the Christian church, the synagogue is not only a place of prayer or religious practices. This is so because in the total space that a Jewish religious center (or synagogue) can occupy there are also rooms where he studies religion, common prayer spaces and various types of offices or rooms that are dedicated to administrative tasks.

According to what the tradition, the origin of these enclosures is due to the need that the rabbis opportunely identified for find a place where prayer, the manifestation of faith, is combined with common activities of the family bean.

Its design does not follow a pattern. They are oriented to the city of Jerusalem

Unlike what happens with Catholic churches, which have architectural features and design Rather similar, synagogues can come in many shapes, sizes, and designs, some being completely simple and others extremely luxurious and opulent. In many cases the synagogues are built following the predominant architectural style in the region, using similar materials and designs.

Now, we must emphasize that most of the synagogue constructions try to be oriented to the sacred city and center of Judaism in the world such as Jerusalem.

Arch of the Torah or Holy Ark, the most important place and where the Torah is read

One of the most important parts of the interior of a synagogue is the space where the Torah is read or book holy jew. This space is known as the Arch of the Torah or Holy Ark. In this space is the platform from which the Torah scrolls are read, a platform known by the name of Bimah. Other important elements are the eternal light, which is achieved with a lamp or candle that remains continuously lit, the candelabrum of the seven lamps, etc.

As with other religious institutions, the synagogue has a wide variety of social activities that are offered to the community to encourage the participation and commitment to the Jewish religion.

Targets of attack against the Jewish community

Due to the situation that has always surrounded the Jewish community and also as a consequence of the strong disputes that it has carried out by Israel with the Palestinians and other Arab countries, is that synagogues have known Jews. Bomb attacks has been the Format more recurrent and practiced all over the world, leaving in its wake of course many victims.

To counteract these violent attacks that take place and do happen is that in synagogues, extreme measures of protection are usually available. safety which are precisely intended to deter these types of attacks. Special constructions are added to the security posts to prevent cars from parking, because of course, one of the attack modes has been car bombs.