Ancient Synagogues in Israel

Today’s post will discuss the changing role of the synagogues over different periods of time.

The first synagogues were built after the destruction of the 1st Holy Temple and have been around since then. Initially, the synagogue was a place for the community to gather – like a town hall. The Hebrew word for a synagogue is ‘Bet-Knesset’ – it means a gathering house (place). Back then, the houses were very small and the only place that could host a big celebration, such as weddings, bar-mitzvahs, or town hall meetings was the synagogue – the biggest building in the village. During this period, the religious ceremonies were only held in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

To name some of these synagogues: the synagogue in Nazareth Village (where Jesus taught and prophesized), the one in Gamla (Golan Heights) or in Capernaum.

Only after the destruction of the 2nd Holy Temple did the synagogues begin to function as a ‘small temple’ and hold religious ceremonies. Religious ceremonies yes, however no sacrifices & offerings, as was the common practice in the Temple. There are architectural similarities & some hints that remind us of the temple in Jerusalem. For example:

The prayer direction – always facing Jerusalem. Accordingly in the synagogues in the North (of Israel) praying is done facing south.
In the 2nd Holy Temple period the main entrance/exit was from the south. The Galilee synagogues followed this pattern and also built the entrance/exit in the south. This meant that the praying direction and the entrance/exit were all facing southward. This created a unique structure of a southern entrance/exit as well as praying to the south (Jerusalem). This unique architecture is called the ‘Galilee Type Synagogues’ after the destruction of the temple.

Today we continue to pray facing Jerusalem, but in the new synagogues the exits/entrances are not necessarily in the southern part of the building.

An interesting note: upon receiving their lands from Joshua son of Nun, the tribes of Israel began offering sacrifices in their villages to worship God. In later years at the King's period, Hezekiah and Isiah ordered the destruction of all alters and that only the Holy Temple be used for religious ceremonies and sacrifices. The religious ceremonies resumed in the cities and villages after the destruction of the 2nd Holy Temple (70AD). In summary, the religious ceremonies, moved hands back and forth over time.

I’d like to thank the Bible Discover TV for this video.