Services at the Synagogue (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))
Revision Note
Author
Glenn MillingtonExpertise
Religious Studies
The Difference Between Services in the Orthodox & Reform Synagogues
Services in the Synagogue
Synagogue services are important for both Reform and Orthodox Jews as they draw the community together
A Rabbi usually leads services of worship in both Orthodox and Reform Synagogues
Often a cantor called the hazzan stands at the front facing the Aron Hakodesh to lead prayers, which are said, sung or chanted
The siddur is used during each service and contains the prayers for the day
A service begins with opening prayers, which are followed by a recitation of the Shema
The Shema is the Jewish declaration of faith in only one God:
Blockquote
"Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
The Amidah is a prayer that is central to Jewish worship
Worshippers stand together in the synagogue facing Jerusalem to perform the prayer in silence
Worshippers think over the words of the prayer in their minds rather than saying them out loud
The Amidah prayer consists of a series of blessings:
The first 3 blessings praise God and ask for his mercy
The middle 13 blessings ask for God’s help
The final blessing thanks God
Services also contain readings from the Torah and end with final prayers, such as the Aleinu, which is a prayer to praise God
Most synagogues have daily prayers and celebration of festivals but the main community time is the Shabbat service
The Difference between Orthodox and Reform Synagogues
There are certain differences between Orthodox and Reform synagogues
Differences between Orthodox and Reform Synagogues
Orthodox Jews | Reform Jews |
|---|---|
Orthodox Jews often refer to a synagogue as "shul", which means school | Reform Jews sometimes call it a "temple" |
Men and women sit in separate sections in Orthodox Jewish synagogues | Reform Jews of different genders sit together to worship |
The bimah is often placed in the centre of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue | Reform Jewish synagogues often have the bimah close to the Aron Hakodesh |
Traditionally, only men could be ordained as a rabbi in Judaism. In Orthodox traditions women are still not allowed to be ordained as a rabbi | Reform movements are more relaxed about this and will allow women to ordain as rabbis |
Prayers are often longer and read in Hebrew | Prayers are often shorter and some are read in English |
Worked Example
Explain two contrasting ways in which worship is carried out in Orthodox and non-Orthodox synagogues
(4 marks)
Answer:
In Orthodox synagogues the men and women worship separately but in non-Orthodox synagogues men and women are together. (2 marks)
In Orthodox synagogues the prayers are longer and in Hebrew but in non-Orthodox synagogues prayers are shorter and can sometimes be in English. (2 marks)
Exam Tip
You may be asked to evaluate the importance of the synagogue within the Jewish faith. For example:
"The synagogue is the centre of the Jewish faith."
Evaluate this statement.
In your answer you should:
• refer to Jewish teaching
• give reasoned arguments to support this statement
• give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view
• reach a justified conclusion (12 marks)
Responses to this question are likely to evaluate the importance of the synagogue compared to the importance of the home for the Jewish faith.
Arguments in support of the statement could include:
• The synagogue is a place for Jews to worship, meet others in their faith community and study
• The synagogue contains the ark where the scrolls of the Torah are kept, and these scrolls assist in the learning of the faith
• Some prayers can only be said in the presence of a minyan (10 adults/men), which is easier to have in a synagogue
• Shabbat services take place weekly in a synagogue and the Torah says, "Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8)
• Study related to the Jewish faith takes place in the synagogue and this can help Jews to learn about and prepare for "faith
rituals" such as Brit Milah, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and marriage
• Synagogues provide social spaces for Jews to meet other members of their faith in a "social hall" and many provide facilities for social interaction between young Jewish people and charitable work
Arguments in support of other views could include:
• The home is the centre of the faith because it is the place of the family unit, considered very important in preserving the faith and passing it to the future generations
• The home has a large part in Shabbat observance, which is central to the faith, and preparations for Shabbat are made at home
• The Friday meal is eaten at home. and the havdalah service is performed to end Shabbat at home
• Daily prayers can be said at home, and homes have reminders of the faith such as mezuzahs, symbolism and copies of Jewish texts
• The laws of kashrut (dietary laws) are based on the home and are observed there
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