What is a private home Jewish meeting called?

Answer 1

To socialize or hold study sessions. It can also be used to hold an additional minyan (to serve as another room for prayer), or for meetings (such as the governing board), or communal meals/celebrations (brit, Bar Mitzva, etc.) and so on. It's a versatile place which is used for whatever is appropriate as needs arise.

Answer 2

Like all houses of worship, a synagogue (often called a "shul" in Yiddish, and sometimes called a "temple") has a main sanctuary for worship services. The main sanctuary is where Jewish people go to pray, observe certain holidays, and attend daily (or weekly) worship; it contains the sacred Torah scrolls (first five books of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament), as well as the prayer books used during the worship services. It also contains a raised platform (called a "bimah") where the rabbi stands and conducts the service, and where he or she reads from the Torah. But a synagogue building also may have a meeting room for holding special events (including conferences, or talks by important guest speakers); a function room for wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties; and some classrooms for religious school.

Answer 3

There's no specific label for such an occasion. It might be referred to by many different names, depending on the individual situation. Here are a few that might occur among Jews:

-- inviting guests for dinner

-- visiting a sick member of the family

-- playing Bridge

-- having the guys over to watch the Super Bowl

-- visiting the daughter who's going off to college

-- visiting the son who's moving to Israel

-- a wedding shower / baby shower

-- a Brit Milah

-- a condolence call on a bereaved family

-- baby-sitting

-- studying for the test / doing homework together

-- a study group on a Sabbath afternoon

-- a parlor meeting to discuss the synagogue budget

-- a gathering to see/hear a visiting Rabbi

Answer 4

The synagogue is a mainly place of worship; and it sometimes serves as a place of social gathering, meetings or assembly.