ForumsWEPRQuestions for a Jew

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zakyman
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zakyman
1,627 posts
Peasant

Inspired by "Ask A Muslim," I am creating this thread to answer any questions about Judaism. I will only answer questions about the religion, not why I believe in it, or how I can prove that it exists.

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zakyman
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zakyman
1,627 posts
Peasant

what do Jews do within a synagogue and what does the inside of one look like?


A synagogue consists of two parts. One main entry place which may contain a dining hall for post-service meals, and then a B'eit Tiffilah, House of Prayer, where we actually pray. You might know that better as a chapel. The chapel, depending on what denomination (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform), will either be sparsely decorated (Orthodox), to ornate with stained glassed windows (Reform). Here is a picture of Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati, the original temple of the Wise Congregation.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B9QptPHH85Y/Si0vOFGl-7I/AAAAAAAAKyo/b9f8g8KkA-Q/s400/Plum+Street+Pano-0728-DZ_Rashkovetskaya+W09-Edit.jpg

Christians actually took our idea of a bimah, or a raised platform, to conduct services on. That is where prayers are led from, the rabbi gives their sermons, and the Torah is read. There are benches for seating. Also, in an Orthodox synagogue, there will be a flimsy wooden curtain separating the men from the women. Also, the women will not be allowed on the bimah or to touch the Torah.

At my temple, we not only pray, but we have youth group inside of the building, and as a congregation also have "Mitzvah Day." That is where on one day a year, we all go out to an assigned location and just help out with things. One year I went to a local lake and we just picked up trash from the beach.
That's all that I can think of. Master, if you know of anything else, please help me out.
master565
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master565
4,104 posts
Nomad

Master, if you know of anything else, please help me out.


Nope, you pretty much covered it. Whenever Jews need to pray (it varies between sects, i think) they go there so that they have a minyan (which is basically a group of 10 people). The basic synagog consists of nothing more then a main room, and an Aron Kodesh (the place where the Torah is held). A more advance synagog may have a dining hall, a lobby, and sometimes class rooms. The synagog doesn't have to be anything special, many of them are just houses that are being used for that purpose.

Also, in an Orthodox synagogue, there will be a flimsy wooden curtain separating the men from the women.


It doesn't need to be flimsy (or wood), it can be anything, they just need separate sections for prayer. Plenty of synagogs separate them by having a whole another floor on top, that the women can look down at the men from.
hojoko
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hojoko
508 posts
Peasant

It doesn't need to be flimsy (or wood), it can be anything, they just need separate sections for prayer. Plenty of synagogs separate them by having a whole another floor on top, that the women can look down at the men from.


From what I've seen, that's the most common in the Hasidic synagogues.
master565
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master565
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Nomad

From what I've seen, that's the most common in the Hasidic synagogues.


Because wood is the easiest material to work with. Plastic breaks to easily and metal is too difficult to move. Wood is simply the smartest material to use.
hojoko
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hojoko
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Peasant

I was talking about the multiple stories. I've been to many synagogues, and I've noticed having a second story is the most common among the Hasidic synagogues.

master565
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master565
4,104 posts
Nomad

I was talking about the multiple stories. I've been to many synagogues, and I've noticed having a second story is the most common among the Hasidic synagogues.


Oh, well I've never been to hasidic synagog so I don't really know, but I'll take your word for it.
JohnGarell
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JohnGarell
1,747 posts
Peasant

Why don't you believe in the new Testament? I'm sorry if the question have been earlier.

zakyman
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zakyman
1,627 posts
Peasant

Why don't you believe in the new Testament? I'm sorry if the question have been earlier.


It hasn't

Anyways, the reason that Jews do not believe in the New Testament is because we do not believe that Jesus Christ was a prophet of God. We believe in him as a person and as a rabbi, but we do not accept his teachings as the words of God.
thebluerabbit
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thebluerabbit
5,340 posts
Farmer

its a pretty big question too... i could ask why christians do believe in the new testament. its exactly what makes them christians. judaism is about the old testament and thats just the way it is.

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