Why were synagogues important during the diaspora?

Answer 1

• Answer 1

Synagogues are to Jews as churches are to Christians.

• Christian answer:

There were few synagogues until the Temple was destroyed so it wasn't important at all "in the time of Jesus".

Temple was important to the Sadducees as it was the only place ritual sacrifices could be made; it was THE holy site. However, mainstream Judaism was phasing that out by the Pharisees in which prayer, study, and fulfillment of the commandments began replacing ritual sacrifices.

Today the main place of worship and prayer is the home. The synagogue is called Beit Knesset in Hebrew which means House of Assembly. It is important because it is the place Jews stay connected with one another as a people.

• Answer 3

Jewish answer: Without the Temple, Jews do not now offer sacrifices, but we learn their laws along with the rest of the Torah and we mourn the Temple's destruction. It is no less important now than it was. "Phasing out" any section of the Torah is a non-existent concept in religious Judaism.

Also, thinking that Judaism switched to synagogues is a common misconception. 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 (of daily prayer and study) that they do today (Talmud, Megillah 26b and Berakhot 31a).

Concerning the Torah's commands also, loyal Jews have always been fulfilling them. This has never changed.

Answer 2

The Synagogue is the place for meeting coצצומןאט religious obligations. In Numbers and Leviticus, God said to gather yourselves for certain times and seasons. When the Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed, the central meeting place was gone, so the synagogue remained the meeting place to fulfill what commandments could be filled.

The Synagogue serves as a place of religious teaching, and a center to teach children religious heritage and the Hebrew language. The Synagogue serves as a cornerstone of community life in Judaism.

Answer 3

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.

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.

Note:

The Temple was very important while it stood but was not THE most important thing.

The center of Judaism is and always has been the Torah and our relationship to God, including our beliefs and all of the Torah's commands.
We keep whichever of the Torah's commands that circumstances enable us to do. Without the Temple, we do not now offer sacrifices, but we learn their laws along with the rest of the Torah and we mourn the Temple's destruction. It is no less important now than it was.

Thinking that Judaism switched to synagogues is a common misconception. 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 (of daily prayer and study) that they do today (Talmud, Megillah 26b and Berakhot 31a).

Answer 4

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.

• 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 5

Synagogues are the places of Jewish worship, and also (often) of Torah-study too.

Answer 6

The synagogue is where we gather to pray and study. It's one of the things which holds the Jewish community together.

Answer 7

The synagogue is the center of Jewish life outside Israel. It is a place where Jews study, pray, and socialize with other Jews.