Synagogue General

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The Jewish prayer hall, used for religious services as well as for social and educational gatherings, is known in Hebrew as a “house of prayer” and in Yiddish as a “school.” It serves the Jewish community as a center for both spiritual and social life. It is typically oriented towards the east (towards Jerusalem), with the eastern wall housing an ark that contains the Torah scrolls. In the center of the synagogue is a raised platform called the bimah, used for leading prayers and reading from the Torah. In Orthodox communities, there are separate spaces for men and women, but in most Jewish congregations, the space is mixed. Jews celebrate their holy day on Saturday (Shabbat), but prayers are conducted every day. One of the oldest Gothic synagogues in Europe is located in Prague (the Old-New Synagogue).

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