Make for Me a Sanctuary and I shall dwell among them... |
The synagogue has served as a Jewish institution for prayer, study, and socializing since the destruction of the Second Temple in 69/70 C.E. Its roots lie in the post-Exilic experience of the Jewish people in Babylonia following the destruction of the First Temple (built by King Solomon) in 586 B.C.E. Throughout the generations it has taken many shapes and forms, from tiny shteibeles to grand structures, conforming to the spiritual, social, and political needs and possibilities of Jewish communities around the world.
Here you can learn about the history of the synagogue, its rituals and customs; those who work, pray, and study in the synagogue; the structure of a synagogue service and etiquette for visitors.
If you have further questions which are not answered sufficiently in this section of the website, please e-mail me directly.
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I recommend that you visit also the Synagogue 3000 website, a comprehensive project for the spiritual transformation of synagogue structure and culture. It combines a comprehensive vision of the Jewish future with change-management techniques as utilized in business and industry.