The Synagogue
The Synagogue is the Jewish equivalent of a Christian church or Islam Mosque: a place of worship. Orthodox Jews often call this a 'shul'. The synagogue is also often used for learning and studying the Torah. To help us understand a synagogue better inside and out, I have created a synagogue in Minecraft with the main features of a Synagogue. The exterior design is based on that of The Great Synagogue in Plzen, and the interior of a Conservative Jewish synagogue.
The outside
The outside of a synagogue can largely differ. It can be elaborate or simple. However, most can be mistaken for houses or normal buildings as they have been bought by Jews, not originally built as synagogues. My synagogue is relatively elaborate (including gold, lapis lazuli and quartz!) and brightly coloured.
The outside of a synagogue can largely differ. It can be elaborate or simple. However, most can be mistaken for houses or normal buildings as they have been bought by Jews, not originally built as synagogues. My synagogue is relatively elaborate (including gold, lapis lazuli and quartz!) and brightly coloured.
Interior
Synagogues look relatively similar to Christian ones on the inside, with benches going down towards the front, and a path to walk down in the middle, usually with carpet. The ark is the cupboard at the front where the torah scroll(s)is/are kept. Again, this can be incredibly elaborate or just a plain cupboard. The more elaborate ones are often made from stained glass. They are placed so that by looking towards them, you are looking towards Jerusalem.
.Just in front of the ark is a type of lectern where readings are made from by the Rabbi. It does not always look like a Christian Lectern though and can simply be a raised platform. This is called the 'bimah'. This is usually in the middle of the synagogue if it is Orthodox.In a Reform synagogue, it is in front of the ark. In a Conservative synagogue, it can be found in either place...or somewhere in between! This is the view from my synagogue's bimah:
Usually above and slightly in front of the ark is the Eternal Light (ner tamid). This is a lamp that is never allowed to go out. This is kept in Orthodox synagogues by relighting it, and in Conservative or Reform synagogues, it is powered by electricity. It is there as reference to the menorah, a seven lamp, pure gold candle which Moses used while in his Sanctuary. The furthest west lamp is believed to have miraculously stayed alight perpetually even when the others had gone out. (west was the direction of Jerusalem)
Up above, there are usually two balconies at the sides or one at the back. If not, it is probably a Reform or Conservative synagogue. This is where the women will normally sit in a synagogue that doesn't allow women to sit with men (Orthodox or sometimes Conservative).
However, this is not always the case. Some Conservative and even Reform synagogues previously did not allow women to sit with men but changed their views.With the costs of knocking them down, they are kept as extra unisex seating.
In this Conservative synagogue, it could either not be allowing women to sit with men (with women sitting on the balcony), or using the balconies as extra seating.
Synagogues will also often contain a room (or several rooms) for studying the Torah, and sometimes even offices and other rooms for working and learning. Rarely, they are even used as Hebrew/Jewish schools!
The towers of my synagogue are the areas used for learning and studying. Here are some pictures of the offices, study rooms, and the library.
However, this is not always the case. Some Conservative and even Reform synagogues previously did not allow women to sit with men but changed their views.With the costs of knocking them down, they are kept as extra unisex seating.
In this Conservative synagogue, it could either not be allowing women to sit with men (with women sitting on the balcony), or using the balconies as extra seating.
Synagogues will also often contain a room (or several rooms) for studying the Torah, and sometimes even offices and other rooms for working and learning. Rarely, they are even used as Hebrew/Jewish schools!
The towers of my synagogue are the areas used for learning and studying. Here are some pictures of the offices, study rooms, and the library.