SYNAGOGUE (Zurtrywy6), a word which primarily signifies any assembly or congregation, but came to be applied, among the Jews, to places where any assemblies, especially those for the worship of God, met, or were convened. In the later Hebrew, such places were called 11%;.'," house of assembly." There is no trace of synagogues among the Israelites prior to the Bahylonish captivity, nor, in express terms, until a long time after. It is collected, however, that the origin of such establishments may be referred to that period. Being then debarred from their customary religious observances, they were accustomed to assemble on the Sabbath-day, to hear portions of the law read and expounded ; and those who ultimately returned from exile kept up this custom in Palestine. (Nehem. viii. 18.) These assemblies or meetings became in due time fixed to certain places, and a regular order was observed in them. They existed considerably earlier among the Jews settled in foreign parts than in their own country, where we do not find them until the time of the Asmonxan princes ; but after their introduction they increased rapidly. The synagogues appear to have been originally erected outside the towns, in the fields, usually near waters, for the benefit of ablution ; but they were soon introduced into the towns, and were usually on the most elevated spots. In Large towns there were several, and the Jewish writers affirm that there were 480 in Jerusalem. The assemblages were at first confined to the Sabbath-days and festivals, but were latterly extended to the second and fifth days of the week (Mondays and Thursdays). The services consisted chiefly in prayer, and iu the reading and exposition of the sacred books. At first the readings were confined to the law, but were at length made to comprehend portions of the prophets, psalms, and other books. The whole concluded with a prayer and benediction, to which the congregation responded " Amen." It. seems to have been the custom for a synagogue not to be opened in any place where ten men could not be found of sufficient leisure to attend to its affairs. Where no separate building existed, a room in some private home was the place of meeting. There are no ancient indications that the synagogues had any peculiar form ; but each of them had a kind of altar or table, at which the volume of the law was read ; and at the east end was an ark or chest in which that volume was kept. The seats were so disposed that the face of the people was turned towards this sacred repository and towards the elders, who alone sat with their backs to the ark, and their faces to the people. The synagogues were used not only for worship, but for holding local courts of justice, which had cognisance of petty offences requiring no higher punishment than stripes, which were inflicted on the spot. (Matt. x.
17 ; Luke, xii. 11 ; Acts, xxii.19.) The affairs of the synagogue were under the direction of several officers : the chief of them was the arehi synagogue (iipxerevarerfs), or " ruler of the synagogue," who regulated its affairs, and without whose leave no one could read or preach. (Mark, v. 22; Luke, xiii. 11.) Next to him was the officer called 1:1:n; ry?Vi " Sheliach tzibbor," or " angel (messenger) of the church," who prayed In behalf of the congregation. The 1:117 " Chazan," who is the reader in modern synagogues, appears to have been the " minister " (Luke, Iv. 20) who had charge of the sacred books. As it appears from Acts, xiii. 15, that there were several arehisynagogi, it is probable that they answered to the committee of elders, by whom the syna gogues are at the present time managed.
With some necessary inodifie.itions, the ancient usages are still maintained in the modern synagogues. The highest ground that can be conveniently appropriated is still chosen for the site of a synagogue. In this part of the world it extends east and west, with the entrance, or principal entrance, in the west, that as the people enter, and as they sit, their faces may be turned towards the land of Canaan. The altar or desk is on a raised platform surrounded by a wooden rail, and large enough to contain several persons : the women do not mingle with the men, but have a separate part or gallery (if there be one), where a wooden lattice screens them from observation. The men keep their beads covered in the synagogues.
The first synagogue in England of which we have historical know ledge is that which, in the reign of William Rufus, existed at Oxford, where the Jews were then numerous ; but it is likely that they had one then or before in London also, as the fact that their only burial place in England was on the spot now called Jewin Street, indicates that this was their principal seat. In the reign of Henry III. they lost a synagogue, which they had erected in the Old Jewry, on the complaint of the Friars Penitent in the neighbourhood, that they could not consecrate the elements in quiet on account of their "howlings.
So late as the reign of George II. the only synagogues allowed in England were the two in London, one for the Portuguise Jews in Bevis Marks, and the other for the German Jews, in Duke's Place There is now no restriction ; they have several synagogues in Londou. and at least one in most of the principal towns, and the total number in England was fifty-three in 1860.