How did Jews worship in the ancient times?

Answer 1

They prayed as we do today, since our central prayers (morning blessings, Shema, birchot kriat shema, Shemonah Esreh and others) are ancient and codified in the Talmud. Since the early generations had more awareness of God, they may have prayed with more intensity than today.

See also:

How_did_Jews_worship_in_the_ancient_times

Answer 2

In ancient times, Jews worshiped in synagogues as today, and there were also offerings brought in the Temple in Jerusalem.

More information on the offerings:

One of the topics in the Torah (Leviticus ch.1-8) is that of sacrifices. Since the Holy Temple doesn't exist today, we don't now offer sacrifices. In earlier times, sacrifices were one of the ways of serving God; a type of manifest prayer. They consisted of bullocks, goats, sheep, rams, turtle-doves, or fine flour, accompanied by an offering of oil and of wine (see Numbers ch.15). Some offerings were obligatory and some were voluntary; some were for the individual and some were for the public. There was one offering which was intended to provide merit for the non-Jewish nations as well.

Some of the ideas included in the sacrifices are: gratitude (the Shelamim-offering, Leviticus ch.3), dedication to God (the Olah-offering, Leviticus ch.1), celebration (the Hagigah-offering during Festivals), atonement (the sin-offerings, Leviticus ch.4-5), and public worship (the offerings in Numbers ch.28-9).

Our traditions teach that as long as the sacrifices were offered in the Temple, the world was blessed (Talmud, Ketubot 10b) and atoned for (Sukkah 55b).

Some people have a misconception that the Prophets were not in favor of sacrifices. This is a mistake. The same Prophet Samuel who said that obedience is more important than offerings (1 Samuel ch.15), himself offered up sacrifices to God (1 Samuel ch.13).

What the Prophets meant was that repentance and obedience to God are essential; they should accompany the sacrifices and cannot be replaced by the sacrifices (or anything else). All of the offerings are intended to be part of a process of drawing near to God. This ideal of offerings together with repentance is explained in the Talmud as well (Berakhot 23a). The Talmud adds that, similar to the offerings, Torah-study and repentance also must go hand in hand (Berakhot 17a).

Another misconception is that Judaism changed after the Temple's destruction, and turned from a sacrifice-centered religion to a focus on prayer. It should be pointed out that Jews always worshiped in synagogues, even when the Holy Temple stood. Even within the Temple premises, there were several synagogues. During the Second Temple era, ancient Greek authors attest to the large synagogues that stood in all the countries where Jews lived. The Dioploston in Alexandria, for example, was famous for its size (Talmud, Tosefta Sukkah 4:6). In First Temple times also, synagogues served the same function that they do today (Talmud, Megillah 26b and Berakhot 31a).

Answer 3

2000 years ago, Judaism wasn't divided into the same groups it is today. Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform didn't exist. Jewish practice was centered around the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, where they offered animal sacrifices, and received blessings from priests.

Judaism today evolved from the Pharisees, and is based on prayer, study, and deeds of lovingkindness.