Customs - The Synagogue A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . . If at first you dont succeed, re-define success. CUSTOMS — THE SYNAGOGUE The origin of the Jewish Synagogue is probably to be assigned to the time of the Babylonian exile. Having no Temple, the Jews assembled on the Sabbath to hear the LAW read, and the practice continued in various buildings after the return. They (the enemies of GOD) resolved, Let us destroy them altogether! They burned all GODS Tabernacles in the land. [Psalms (Tehillym) 74. 8 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Synagogue is a Greek word for an assembly (gathering together for religious purposes) and was coined about the middle of the third century BC in Alexandria, where the Jews first came in contact with Grecian culture and adopted Greek as their daily speech. As the term implies, the Synagogue is the House of Worship for the Jews and is considered the means for the preservation of the Jewish religion. Stress is placed upon the congregation to respect the synagogue and therefore, laughing and loud talking is forbidden within its walls. GOD OMNIPOTENT calls HIS House (Synagogue, Shul, Temple, Church, Assembly) THE HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS. It is the meeting place for believers whom ALMIGHTY GOD seeks to worship HIM in spirit and in truth. The assembly of the righteous gather together not only to meet with the MOST HIGH, but to encourage one another in the LORD and to preserve their faith in HIM. They are exhorted to gather together even more so as they see the day approaching when the church age will end because of the return of the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA. Maimonides, a famous Jewish Rabbi, wrote of the synagogue: In every place where there are ten Jews it is incumbent upon them to establish an institution where men may enter to pray on every occasion for prayer — and such an institution is called Beit HaKneseth. And the Jews in the community compel one another to build for themselves a Synagogue and to acquire a TORAH. And when a Synagogue is built it should be built on a high place in the city — and it should be taller than all the buildings in the community. [Maimonides] The majority of Jewish Synagogues are built in such a position that when the people of the congregation stand to pray before the platform where the Aaron haKodesh (Holy Ark) — they are praying toward the City of Jerusalem. This opportunity for the worshipers is given because of the SCRIPTURAL injunction, ...pray to YOU in the direction of their land which YOU gave to their fathers, the City which YOU have chosen. [1 Kings (Melakhim Alef) 8. 48 Tanakh, Neviim] There is a total absence of all images, portraits and statues in the Jewish House of Worship honoring the second commandment, You shall have no other gods besides ME. You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. [Exodus (Shemot) 20. 3 - 4 Tanakh, Torah] This commandment is so ingrained in the heart of some Jews that even to him who receives his MESSIAH, there is still an aversion, not only in the church, but also in the home and other places, to portraits, etc., which attempt to show a likeness to the LORD GOD! However, inscribed on the walls, are some SCRIPTURAL passages glorifying ALMIGHTY GOD and HIS House in one way or another to keep the interior from being too plain. In some instances the decorations are costly. Services in the Jewish House of Worship are conducted twice daily — in the morning a little after sunrise, and in the evening shortly before sunset. On Sabbath and holidays, services are conducted on the eve of the day, the morning, the afternoon, and the evening. In some synagogues, we find no musical instruments. This is to preserve the thought of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. In Orthodox (means: thinking straight or devout) Synagogues, the hands are washed before entering and for this purpose a pitcher of water is placed in the anteroom which corresponds to the laver before the Tabernacle and Temple of old. Burial from the Synagogue in most localities, is forbidden because of the defilement of the holy place by the corpse. While in the Synagogue, worshipers keep their heads covered (a practice observed also by many persons when reading any and every HEBREW TEXT), because literature written in the so-called holy tongue is considered especially sacred and its study is regarded a religious act. Some Jews consider it a sacrilege to go at any time with their head uncovered, as the high priest wore a head covering when officiating in the Sanctuary, so should every Jew when praying. During religious services or functions, Jewish men wear what is called Yarmulkuh. The word Yarmulkuh (skull cap) is derived from the Slavic-Tartarian language. It is made in the shape of a Kipah — the dome of heaven. Another word for this covering is the German kappel or small cap. A Jew, who follows religious tradition covers his head at all times, even when sleeping! Moses Maimonides wrote that great men among our sages would not uncover their heads because they believed that GODS glory was around and over them. A devout Jew will not pronounce GODS REVEALED NAME, recite the Shma, or read from the BOOK OF THE LAW without this or a similar covering. [also called a Mitre (bonnet) in Exodus/Shemot 28. 39 & Leviticus/Vayikra 16. 4] Jewish Orthodox women always wore (and still do) a head covering in the synagogue. It was the custom among them to shave their hair off their heads so that it would not be seen by man and to substitute a wig or false hair called sheital or peruk. According to the TALMUD — A womans hair is considered nudity — therefore a womans hair should be covered. According to an ancient Jewish belief, evil spirits gained power over a woman who went with her head bare! The Jewish law states that although the head is to be kept covered, the hands are to be kept uncovered; therefore gloves must be removed during devotion. This custom is based on the synonymous use of praying with the BIBLICAL phrase: spreading forth the hands. The TALMUD states that the priests in ancient times, elevated their hands up to the shoulders in the giving of the benediction. When they were in the Temple they raised their hands up to the forehead. This position, they felt, was in order to follow the expression the lifting up of the hands. In his writings the Apostle Paul spoke of the worshipers as men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. [1 Timothy 2. 8] According to the present practice of the Rabbis, the fingers of the two hands are so joined together and separated as to form five interstices (openings close to another). Rabbis today, with their hands in the foregoing described position, pronounce the priestly prayer, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make HIS face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up HIS countenance upon you, and give you peace. [Numbers (BMidvar) 6. 24 - 26 Tanakh, Torah] This benediction is never used to dismiss the congregation! Also called the Aaronic Benediction — so called because Aaron was the first man whom the ALMIGHTY commissioned to use it. In form, it is symmetrical as a cut diamond. Three times The LORD appears, and three times the word and serves as a silver link between two golden lines. Each line brings in a new thought. It was spoken to the children of Israel yet it is meant for the congregation. But the congregation consists of individuals, hence ultimately it is meant for each individual member thereof. The Benediction is a GOD-inspired poem, full of grace and truth. It is a miniature symphony whose opening movement breathes DIVINE goodness, whose design is the grace of GOD, and whole culmination is peace. It is really an intercessory prayer, dictated by the ETERNAL MIGHTY ONE HIMSELF. Its words are like many angels sent forth from the THRONE OF GOD to guard and guide worshippers on their way. In synagogues, suspended immediately in front of the Aaron haKodesh (Holy Ark) is the perpetual lamp. It is constantly kept burning, as the name indicates. The lamp is made either of gold, silver, copper or burnished brass. This lamp is in obedience to the command of GOD: You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you pure oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps to burn continually. Aaron and his sons shall set them up in the Tabernacle of Meeting, outside the veil which is over the Ark of Testimony, to burn from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a due from the children of Israel throughout the ages. [Exodus (Shemot) 27. 20 - 21 Tanakh, Torah] An orthodox congregation separates the women from the men in their worship. The women meet in the court for women and the men in the court for men. This dates back to the times of the Temple when the women were not permitted to enter the premises of the sanctuary for fear of distracting the men in their devotions. Isn’t it wonderful how the LORD JESUS enlightens us with HIS WORD that elevates women to a honored and distinguished position worth of praise and nobility; a valued creature to be cherished and protected! Sha’alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel! Joyously Welcoming Sabbath! Praised are YOU, LORD our GOD, SOVEREIGN of the Universe, WHO makes us holy with YOUR mitzvoth and favors us with the Holy Shabbat, lovingly and graciously given to us. Assuredly, HE WHO keeps Israel neither slumbers or sleeps! HalleluYAH! May we return to the LORD GOD with all our hearts, mind and souls — seeking HIM while HE may be found and calling upon HIS HOLY NAME. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem, is praying for the return of our Messiah and Lord and for the Kingdom of God He is bringing when He comes. Then Gods Will shall be done on earth as it is in Heaven and the world will experience true godly universal peace which is the fruit of Righteousness. Email: [email protected] Web Page: delrifkah Thoughts Archived: groups.yahoo/group/delrifkah/ End-time Events: delrifkah/Facepage.html Please visit our web page for teachings on Bible texts and subjects. Also notice the section showing the disparity between the Holy Bible and the Muslim Koran (Quran). The newest section is our thought by thought study through the Bible. Having completed the Torah (books of Moses), and the New Testament, we are now going through the book of; [Nahum].
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 00:20:01 +0000
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