Synagogue

A synagogue is a gathering place for Jewish minyanim (prayer quorums) to pray three times daily (Shacharit, Mincha, and Maarit). This place holds great importance as it is considered a "mini sanctuary." Therefore, special respect must be shown within it. There are many laws concerning "synagogue honor" - for example, it is forbidden to enter a synagogue merely to seek shelter from rain or heat unless one recites some verses or studies something. The Rebbe himself would pick up any litter or even cigarette butts from the floor when entering and exiting.

In the past, there was a distinction between synagogues designated only for prayer and the Beit Midrash designated only for study, where holding prayer services was forbidden (except for the three daily prayers). Today, this distinction is not commonly practiced, and most synagogues also serve as study halls, typically in side rooms.

Different synagogues follow different prayer traditions, and generally each community has its own specific tradition according to their ancestral customs.

Mini Sanctuary

The primary use of a synagogue is for prayer.

The Rambam wrote in Laws of Prayer Chapter 11: "Any place that has ten Jews requires preparation of a house where they can enter for prayer at every prayer time, and this place is called a synagogue. The city's residents compel each other to build them a synagogue and purchase Torah scrolls, Prophets, and Writings for them.

When building a synagogue, it should only be built at the city's height, as it is said 'at the top of noisy places she calls,' and it should be raised higher than all the city's courtyards, as it is said 'and to elevate the house of our God.' Synagogue entrances should only open to the east, as it is said 'and those camping before the tabernacle eastward.' A sanctuary should be built in it where the Torah scroll is placed, and this sanctuary should be built in the direction that they pray towards in that city, so that they face the sanctuary when standing for prayer."

House of Our Teacher

After the Temple's destruction and Israel's exile, the Divine Presence went into exile with them. Wherever Israel was exiled, there was a "mini" Temple besides the synagogues called mini sanctuaries. There was the main mini sanctuary (where the Divine Presence dwelled at a higher level than other synagogues) in each generation. The main mini sanctuary of each generation was chosen according to the location of that generation's leader, who essentially led Israel in his time, called the House of Our Teacher.

In 5752 (1992), the Rebbe distributed a special pamphlet called "Pamphlet of Our Teacher's House in Babylon" where he explains the virtue of the 770 synagogue as being the "House of Our Teacher" of the final generation, since the leader of the current generation is located there. He innovates that during the redemption, the Divine Presence will first be revealed in 770 and then move together with the synagogue to Jerusalem, to the Temple Mount, to the true and third Temple.

Guide Dogs in the Synagogue

The Rebbe discussed permitting guide dogs in synagogues (regarding a blind person who needed one). The Rebbe rejected evidence from the Sifri and Kli Yakar which seemed to prohibit this, reasoning that practical law cannot be derived from homiletic biblical interpretations, and that the phrasing in Kli Yakar ("it is not proper to bring them to a holy place") is not definitive. The Rebbe challenged these sources using the Talmud Yoma and Rashi's commentary, and the Zohar, which prove that there were actual dog and lion forms in the Temple, regarding the fire that burned there and the coal that fell in Solomon's time. The Rebbe also cited the halachic obligation to pray in synagogue and concluded that possibilities for permission should be sought due to potential distress for the blind person and the importance of synagogue prayer.

Reading Platform

A platform (bimah) for Torah reading is placed in the center of the synagogue, used on reading days. The platform is made like a slanted table covered with a cloth, and in some synagogues it is elevated from the floor.

The Torah and Haftarah are read on this platform, and the shofar is blown there on Rosh Hashanah. The reading platform's origins trace back to the Temple during Hakhel when the High Priest would read before all Israel.

According to halacha, the platform must be placed in the synagogue's center - either so everyone can hear, or because the synagogue is a mini sanctuary, making it similar to the Temple altar which was in the center of the courtyard. According to the second reason, the platform must be central even in small buildings where everyone can hear regardless.

According to Kabbalah, the platform should not have more than 6 steps leading to it.

Despite the above, for many years besides the main reading platform in 770, the Rebbe used an additional small platform placed near the ark to make it easier for him to walk and climb. The Hoshanot prayers during Sukkot are also conducted around this platform.

The Rebbe instructed that when necessary, there should be at least one row of seats before the reading platform.

Women's Section

Similar to the Temple, the synagogue has a special room for women's prayer.

According to the Rebbe's instruction, "It is better and more proper for women to also sit in front with the partition from east to west, not north to south. The partition should be taller than a man's height." Meaning, the synagogue division should be lengthwise not widthwise - women should sit along the entire length of the synagogue and not 'in back' as is common in most synagogues.

Chabad Synagogue

Most Chabad synagogues have several regulations applying to anyone approaching to pray as prayer leader, with the main ones being to pray using the Alter Rebbe's text called Siddur Tehillat Hashem (or Siddur Torah Ohr), and to recite the daily Psalms portion after prayer, according to the Previous Rebbe's regulations.

Second Room

A distinctive feature of Chabad synagogues is the "second room" (also called Chabadnitze) - an additional small men's section attached to the main hall where people can pray at length or prepare for prayer through deep study of Chassidic discourse in quiet.

The existence of a second room began during the time of the hidden groups, and it is told that the Alter Rebbe at age ten would "sit in the second room of the Liozna synagogue and study."

During the Middle Rebbe's time, when friction between Chassidim and 'opponents' increased with risk of incidents, the Middle Rebbe prohibited his Chassidim from praying in synagogues without a second room, thus preventing them from entering 'opponents'' synagogues.

Chassidim in past generations were very particular about the 'second room' and made every effort to build one in each community with a synagogue.

Prayer Leader's Stand

In Chabad synagogues, they don't write the verse "I have set God before me always" on the prayer leader's stand, since this should be written in mind and heart internally, not as an external reminder.

In Chabad synagogues, the custom is for the prayer leader's stand to be on the right of the ark.