synagogue

syn·a·gogue

noun \ˈsi-nə-ˌgäg\

Definition of SYNAGOGUE

1

: a Jewish congregation

2

: the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation

— syn·a·gog·al \ˌsi-nə-ˈgä-gəl\ adjective

Variants of SYNAGOGUE

syn·a·gogue also syn·a·gog \ˈsi-nə-ˌgäg\

Origin of SYNAGOGUE

Middle English synagoge, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin synagoga, from Greek synagōgē assembly, synagogue, from synagein to bring together, from syn- + agein to lead — more at agent

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Jewish Religion Terms

Talmud, Zion, challah, dybbuk, kosher, tabernacle, tetragrammaton, yarmulke

Rhymes with SYNAGOGUE

analog, analogue, antilog, apologue, catalog, decalogue, demagogue, dialogue, epilogue, golliwog, homologue, leopard frog, monologue, mummichog, mystagogue, nouvelle vague, pedagogue, pollywog, semilog, sinologue, Taganrog, theologue, travelogue, waterlog

synagogue

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In Judaism, a community house of worship that also serves as a place for assembly and study. Though their exact origins are uncertain, synagogues flourished side by side with the ancient Temple cult; they existed long before Jewish sacrifice and the established priesthood were terminated with Titus's destruction of the Second Temple (AD 70). Thereafter, synagogues took on even greater importance as the unchallenged focal point of Jewish life. There is no standard synagogue architecture. A typical synagogue contains an ark (where the scrolls of the Law are kept), an “eternal light” burning before the ark, two candelabra, pews, a bimah (see bema), and sometimes a ritual bath (mikvah).