Where do Jewish people pray?

Answer 1

Jews gather to pray together in a synagogue, or a temple.

However, they can also pray on their own anywhere they happen to be.

Answer 2

Although a Jew can pray anywhere. There is a substantial qualitative difference in prayer to go the the synagogue and pray with at least ten men over the age of 13.

Answer 3

According to our tradition, we can pray privately when necessary, but communal prayer in the synagogue has a much stronger effect (Talmud, Berakhot 7b-8a). Praying also strengthens the spiritual level and the bonds within the community.
The importance of prayer:
Prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a); and the Torah records several prayers of our forefathers.
Prayer is an important form of communicating with God, and maintaining a relationship with Him; and it is also good for the health of the soul, to which Torah, prayer and religious observances are a form of nourishment. Judaism sees it as centrally important to thank God, to recognize that He is the source of prosperity, and to be close to Him.
How do Jews pray?
The Jewish prayer-book has a structured order. Prayers are ancient, and often are sung or chanted. Some prayers are said in unison (such as Shir Hakavod), and some are not. Some prayers are said more than once per day (such as the Shema), some once a day (such as Yotzer Ohr), and others are said only on Sabbath, festivals or certain occasions. Some prayers are said aloud (such as Kaddish), some are sung (such as Lekha Dodi) and some are to be whispered (the Amidah). Most of the services are in Hebrew, but a couple of prayers are in Aramaic (such as Brikh Shemei).
While praying, Jews either sit, or stand, depending on the prayer. There is also some bowing forward (in the Amidah and Aleinu), but Jews today do not kneel except once a year on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).
In between the prayers, Kaddish is said; and the Torah is read on many occasions (over two hundred times a year).
While formal prayer services are held in the synagogue three times each day throughout the year, many other blessings (such as those over meals) are said in the home.

Answer 2

As a group or community, Jews most often conduct prayer services in a structure called a synagogue or temple, and sometimes called a shull.

-- Judaism attaches great value and importance to the unity of the Jewish nation and community in all aspects of life, so it's natural that community prayer should be sought, in preference to individual prayer. (This is NOT to say that individual prayer has no value.)

-- Formal reading from the Torah takes place only during a community prayer service.

Answer 3

Jews can pray anywhere that is clean. Religious Jewish men need to pray in groups of ten (called a minyan) at home or in a synagogue. Women can pray alone or in groups. Traditionally, Jews outside of Israel pray in the direction of Israel (or if they are in a room with a Torah scroll, in the direction of the Torah), Jews in Israel face Jerusalem, and Jews in Jerusalem face the site where the Temple stood, or the Western Wall (which is still standing).

Answer 4

There are a number of different places where Jews pray, listed in commonality from most common to least common.

1) Synagogue/Beit Knesset/Schul/Temple/Sla3:

General Functions of the Synagogue
The synagogue's primary purpose is communal prayer, but a it's not just a place for worship. For some prayers, the presence of ten adult men (or men and women in Liberal Judaism) called a minyan is required. Even the reading from the Torah scrolls could theoretically be done in a home, but since Judaism emphasizes worshiping as a community, people normally gather together in a synagogue. It is also a place for study, since the study of Torah is equal to all other Mitzvot combined. Reading, learning and understanding of religious texts is very important. Additionally, the synagogue serves as a place for Jews to assemble and to socialize.

For Jews, the day begins a sundown. Since the Jewish Sabbath is Saturday, that day begins for them on what the secular world calls Friday evening at sundown. Jewish worship services may therefore be held on Friday evening after sundown, or on Saturday during the daylight hours. Study of the Torah and performing good deeds, otherwise known as "Mitzvah" or in plural as "Mitzvot", and supporting the people and community around you (not just the members of your congregation) are the most important acts or callings to Jewish people.

Name Issues:
In Judaism, different terms are used according to your tradition or where you come from. Therefore, it makes sense that each name has a different linguistic derivation. (The rules about who chooses which name are not set in stone.)

Synagogue comes from Greek: Since it was during the Roman Empire that Jews began forming small, communal worship centers, these were identified in the lingua franca: Koine Greek (Latin would not become dominant in the Middle East until much later). This term is still considered the most specific in English as "Temple" can refer to a Buddhist place of worship (in which a Jew could not pray on account of the idols). Jews who grew up only speaking English usually use the word "Synagogue".

Beit Knesset in Hebrew: In Hebrew it is called Beit Knesset (בית כנסת): a combination of the Beit Ha-Knesset (House of Assembly), Beit Ha-Midrash (House of Study), and Beit Ha-Tefillah (House of Prayer).

Schul from Yiddish: People who grew up around Yiddish speakers may call it a Schul (Yiddish). The Orthodox and Chasidim use this term as well. Unfortunately, "Schul" is unfamiliar to many Jews who didn't grow up around Yiddish speakers.

Temple from English: Many Reform Jews call it a "Temple". Many Conservative Jews also called it a Temple. Outside of the United States, the use of the word Temple is far less prevalent amongst any group. Temple can also be offensive or confusing since the Jewish Synagogue has little to do with the Great Temples of Jerusalem.

Sla3 from Judeo-Arabic: This term has almost become extinct as the Mizrahi Jewish community adopts Hebrew or English as its primary languages, but this word was used quite commonly, especially in Iraq. Ashkenazi Jews would be utterly confused by this word.

2) At Home:
In addition to synagogue-worship, it is possible to pray privately, or set up a temporary session of prayer in any place which is clean, and respectful for prayers, as long as they are done during the requisite times.

3) Lesser Sanctuary/Mikdash Me'at:
Mikdash Me'at might be the word you're looking for. It means "lesser sanctuary" and refers to a synagogue or to a Jewish home that is marked by tranquility and holiness.

4) Great Temples in Jerusalem/Beit Mikdash:
In ancient times,the Jews had a Great Temple, called Beit HaMikdash in Hebrew. The Jews worshiped in the Great Temple built by King Solomon (Deuteronomy ch.12; 1 Kings ch.6-8). The most important aspect of Jewish worship revolved, for a long time, around worship at the Temple of Solomon until it was destroyed. This temple housed the Ark of the Covenant, the tablets believed to have the Ten Commandments that Moses received on Mount Sinai. The Second Great Temple (and most recent) was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E., but the elevated plaza and its retaining walls were spared destruction. Today, Jews pray at the retaining wall to the west of the Temple Mount. This area is called the "Western Wall" or Kotel Ha-Ma'aravi in Hebrew and is the holiest place in Judaism.

5) Tabernacle/Mishkan:
The original Jewish house of worship was the Mishkan, or Tabernacle, a transportable temple used in the wilderness.

Answer 5

Synagogues.

Public prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a).
Prayer is an important form of communicating with God, and maintaining a relationship with Him; and it is also good for the health of the soul, to which Torah, prayer and religious observances are a form of nourishment.

• See also the Related Links.
  

Link: What is the Jewish prayerbook?

Link: When are synagogue services held?

Link: What is the purpose of the "eternal light"?

Link: Which way does the Holy Ark face?

Answer 6

Synagogues.

According to our tradition, we can pray privately when necessary, but communal prayer has a much stronger effect (Talmud, Berakhot 7b-8a). It also strengthens the spiritual level and the bonds within the community.

The importance of prayer:
Prayer services are part of halakha (Jewish law) and tradition (Talmud, Berakhot 26a); and the Torah records several prayers of our forefathers.
Prayer is an important form of communicating with God, and maintaining a relationship with Him; and it is also good for the health of the soul, to which Torah, prayer and religious observances are a form of nourishment. Judaism sees it as centrally important to thank God, to recognize that He is the source of prosperity, and to be close to Him.
How do Jews pray?
The Jewish prayer-book has a structured order. Prayers are ancient, and often are sung or chanted. Some prayers are said in unison (such as Shir Hakavod), and some are not. Some prayers are said more than once per day (such as the Shema), some once a day (such as Yotzer Ohr), and others are said only on Sabbath, festivals or certain occasions. Some prayers are said aloud (such as Kaddish), some are sung (such as Lekha Dodi) and some are to be whispered (the Amidah). Most of the services are in Hebrew, but a couple of prayers are in Aramaic (such as Brikh Shemei).

While praying, Jews either sit, or stand, depending on the prayer. There is also some bowing forward (in the Amidah and Aleinu), but Jews today do not kneel except once a year on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).
In between the prayers, Kaddish is said; and the Torah is read on many occasions (over two hundred times a year).
While formal prayer services are held in the synagogue three times each day throughout the year, many other blessings (such as those over meals) are said in the home.

• See also the Related Links.
  

Link: What is the Jewish prayerbook?

Link: When are synagogue services held?

Link: What is the purpose of the "eternal light"?

Link: Which way does the Holy Ark face?

Answer 7

A Jewish house of worship is most commonly called a synagogue in English, but it is also known as:

• temple (used only by non-Orthodox congregations)
  
• shul (rhymes with school)
  
• Beit k'nesset
  

But Jews can pray anywhere they want.

Answer 8

they can pray anywhere, but their religious building is called a temple.

Answer 9

A building where Jews assemble for worship and instruction is called a synagogue. But Jews can pray anywhere they want.

Answer 10

A Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue, but Jews may pray anywhere.