The Origins of the Synagogue

The word synagogue comes from Greek words meaning to gather or assemble together. The Hebrew term for synagogue, beth knesset, means “house of assembly.” A synagogue building is a congregational hall, analogous to a church or mosque. In contrast, ancient temples (including the Jerusalem temple) were not congregational buildings but instead were conceived of literally as the house of the deity – the house in which the god dwelled. Usually only priests entered ancient temples, to service the needs of the deity (to feed, clothe, and bathe the deity). Everyone else remained outside the temple, around an altar where priests offered sacrifices to please or placate the deity and keep his presence among them.

In discussing the origins of the synagogue, it is important to bear in mind that this term (and analogous terms) can denote the congregation or assembly (a gathering of Jews) as well as the building that houses them (just as the term church can denote a congregation as well as a building). It is difficult to pinpoint the origins of the synagogue because the earliest gatherings did not take place in purpose-built congregational halls and therefore left no traces in the archaeological record. Even today, synagogue assemblies can take place anywhere, even in church buildings! For this reason, a wide range of theories exists about when and where the institution of the synagogue first developed.