"the screen. The app also includes instructions on how to organize a megillah reading, a halakhic discussion of the sources for women's reading of the megillah, a dvar Torah about the Book of Esther and more. In 2014, JOFA launched an initiative to sponsor artwork for the creation of an educational poster featuring notable female Jewish scholars, to be used to decorate sukkot. Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) was founded in 1997 with the aim of ""expand[ing] the spiritual, ritual, intellectual, and political opportunities for women within the framework of halakha,"" or Jewish law. According"
"grace after meals—require a ""minyan"", the presence of ten Jews. The most common professional clergy in a synagogue are: Jewish prayer services do involve two specified roles, which are sometimes, but not always, filled by a rabbi or hazzan in many congregations. In other congregations these roles are filled on an ad-hoc basis by members of the congregation who lead portions of services on a rotating basis: Many congregations, especially larger ones, also rely on a: The three preceding positions are usually voluntary and considered an honor. Since the Enlightenment large synagogues have often adopted the practice of hiring rabbis"
"men) sit in a first-level balcony-like room, while only married men and their pre-bar mitzvah children sit in the main shul. Above the bochurim's balcony is another balcony for the women. The main synagogue is only used on Shabbos and holidays; on weekdays, a complex of four also brand-new smaller synagogues (""shtiblach"") in the basement of the building are used. The old synagogue, on the first floor of the old building, is now used for tishen. Rebbe Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, the present leader of the movement, has appointed his younger brother, Rabbi Mordechai Yehuda Dushinsky, as rabbi of the Dushinsky"
"prayer is preferred. Communal prayer requires a quorum of ten adult Jews, called a ""minyan"". In nearly all Orthodox and a few Conservative circles, only male Jews are counted toward a ""minyan""; most Conservative Jews and members of other Jewish denominations count female Jews as well. In addition to prayer services, observant traditional Jews recite prayers and benedictions throughout the day when performing various acts. Prayers are recited upon waking up in the morning, before eating or drinking different foods, after eating a meal, and so on. The approach to prayer varies among the Jewish denominations. Differences can include the"
"Nov. ed.) After the Second Vatican Council it became common again to receive the communion standing. Communion bench A Communion bench is an adaptation of the sanctuary guard or altar rail. Standing in front of this barrier, in a space called the chancel, or pectoral, the faithful were wont in early times to receive Holy Communion, the men taking the Consecrated Bread into their hands and the women receiving it on a white cloth, called the domenical, while deacons administered the Precious Blood which each took through a reed of gold or silver. About the twelfth century when the custom"
"Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, through these doors and proceed up to the altar to partake of the Eucharist). On either side of this portal are large brass candlestands called ""menalia"" which represent the pillars of fire which went before the Hebrews into the promised land. The nave is the main body of the church where the people stand during the services. In most traditional Eastern Orthodox churches there are no seats or pews as in the West, but rather ""stacidia"" (A high-armed chair with arm rests high enough to be used for support while standing); these are"
"congregants would sit upon chairs and benches. Today, the custom has spread in all places to sit upon chairs and benches. Until the 19th century, in an Ashkenazi synagogue, all seats most often faced the Torah Ark. In a Sephardic synagogue, seats were usually arranged around the perimeter of the sanctuary, but when the worshipers stood up to pray, everyone faced the Ark. Many current synagogues have an elaborate chair named for the prophet Elijah, which is only sat upon during the ceremony of Brit milah. In ancient synagogues, a special chair placed on the wall facing Jerusalem and next"
"a priest from the Aaronic priesthood or a member of the Melchizedek priesthood. The sacrament table is prepared before the meeting begins, usually by teachers, by placing whole slices of bread on trays and filling small individual water cups, which are also held in trays. Both bread and water trays are then covered with white cloth, representing the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. After introductory prayers, administrative business, and announcements, the sacrament portion of the service begins. It is customary for the congregation to sing a hymn while the bread is uncovered and prepared. The congregation remains seated while the"
"traditionally a quorum of ten or more adult males. Often times in Conservative or Reform communities, a minyan is composed of a mix of ten or more adult males and females. During shiva, a minyan will gather at the home of those in mourning for services. The services are similar to those held at a synagogue. During shiva, however, certain prayers or verses are either added or omitted. During the days that the Torah is read in a synagogue, it is likewise read at the shiva home. An effort is made by the community to lend a Torah scroll to"
"Communion bench A Communion bench is an adaptation of the sanctuary guard or altar rail. Standing in front of this barrier, in a space called the chancel, or pectoral, the faithful were wont in early times to receive Holy Communion, the men taking the Consecrated Bread into their hands and the women receiving it on a white cloth, called the domenical, while deacons administered the Precious Blood which each took through a reed of gold or silver. About the twelfth century when the custom arose of receiving under one kind only, the priests placed the small Hosts on the tongues"
"on. Orthodox Christians stand throughout the long divine services, rather than sit or kneel, though some seating is provided for the elderly and infirm. Whereas Greek monks will tend to lean in their stalls during the services, Russian monks usually stand upright. As the 'hidden' position and 'vernacular' iconography of misericords have prompted them to be seen as a subversive art-form, they have re-appeared as motifs in modern art and literature (see ""Misericords for Ninevah"", Mike Freeman, ""Poetry Nation Review"", pp 24–25, 2009). Misericord A misericord (sometimes named mercy seat, like the Biblical object) is a small wooden structure formed"
"a selection from the New Testament. During this time all sit and the a piece of the blessed bread and a cup of the blessed wine are given to each to provide nourishment to sustain him through the rest of the vigil with the caveat that they are to be consumed straightway so as to keep the fast before Communion. While this custom is still observed in some monasteries, notably on Mount Athos, usually nowadays the blessed bread is simply distributed to the faithful when they exit the service; however, in the Russian tradition, at matins following the singing of"
"of the Hebrew). Services usually use the ""Gates of Prayer, the New Union Prayer Book"" or the book, though occasionally the clergy will write or adapt another service. The most popular regular service is the Friday night Shabbat service. It takes place in the sanctuary and is led by the clergy. Occasionally during the summer the service takes place outside instead. Over 100 people regularly attend these services. The congregation also has Saturday morning Shabbat services, also in the sanctuary and led by the clergy. Usually the services follow Torah study, which takes place at the synagogue and is led"
"mohel completed the circumcision. In modern times, among some more liberal Jews, the sandek may be female or even non-Jewish. At most ceremonies there is only a single sandek, but two are permissible, although more than two is uncommon. During the brit, a chair is sometimes placed next to the sandek's seat. The chair is reserved for the prophet Elijah and remains unoccupied during the ceremony; this practice is derived from the tradition that Elijah protects children from danger. According to some sources the sandek is the ""representative"" of Elijah. Sandek A sandek ( 'companion of child') is a person"
"many Orthodox synagogues have physical barriers (known as a ""mechitzot"") dividing the left and right sides of the synagogue (rather than the usual division between the main floor and large balconies), with the women's section on one side, and the men's section on the other. Technically, a ""mechitzah"" of over four feet or so (ten handbreadths) suffices, even if the men can see the women, though it is not preferable. A typical ""mechitzah"" consists of wheeled wooden panels, often topped with one-way glass to allow women to view the Torah reading. Although Judaism prescribes modesty for both men and women,"
"the congregation stand during services. Traditionally, men stand on the right and women on the left. This is for a number of reasons: (1) Considering the family unit of past centuries the husband was dominant; thus, standing the same distance from the altar, equality is emphasised. (2) The idea of separating the sexes was inherited from the Jewish tradition of doing so within synagogues (3) Separation of sexes also followed the practice of choirs in which different levels of voice are placed in groups to facilitate harmony. In general, men and women dress respectfully, typically wearing their ""Sunday best"" to"
"the Israeli artist Yaacov Agam; in addition to this, the wall that contains the Heichal is a sculpture made by the Venezuelan artist Harry Abend and can accommodate about 100 people in the women's section upstairs. The synagogue also has a lounge in the basement, which is used for celebrations and bar and bat mitzvahs, wedding receptions, meals and the sheva Brachot ritual, which was inaugurated in 1988. On the top floor of the building, next to the area of prayers used by women, is a study room or Bet Midrash. Available in the synagogue are Torah with Rashi, prayer"
"behind the men. Synagogues in which women sit next to the men are generally more concerned with women's ability to join equally in prayer with the congregation. 1. Balcony: balconies with a 3-foot wall are themselves traditionally considered fitting mechitzas. In this design, women sit in the balcony and men sit below. This design was common in the 19th and early 20th century, and is common in Europe, including the Shaarei Tikva synagogue in Lisbon (opened in 1904). Examples in the US include the Bnei Israel (Lloyd Street) Synagogue in Baltimore (opened 1845), B'nai Jacob in Ottumwa, Iowa (opened 1915),"
"been combined into one service. It is the custom in some traditions, such as the Greek Orthodox or Melkite Catholic, to allow tonsured altar servers to also vest in the orarion, worn crossed over the back like that of a subdeacon but with the ends hanging parallel in front. Among the Russians, however, the orarion is not usually worn by servers, but only by duly ordained subdeacons and deacons, with the exception that laymen who are blessed to perform some of the functions of subdeacons may sometimes be blessed to wear the orar. Before vesting, the server must fold his"
"Akathist An Akathist Hymn (, ""unseated hymn"") is a type of hymn usually recited by Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic Christians, dedicated to a saint, holy event, or one of the persons of the Holy Trinity. The name derives from the fact that during the chanting of the hymn, or sometimes the whole service, the congregation is expected to remain standing in reverence, without sitting down (ἀ-, ""a-"", ""without, not"" and κάθισις, ""káthisis"", ""sitting""), except for the aged or infirm. During Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christian religious services in general, sitting, standing, bowing and the making of prostrations are set"
"at services, for availability to bring Holy Communion to the sick, and, especially in the Western Church, as the center of attention for meditation and prayer. The term ""tabernacle"" arose for this item as a reference to the Old Testament tabernacle which was the locus of God's presence among the Jewish people – hence, it was formerly required (and is still generally customary) that the tabernacle be covered with a tent-like veil or curtains across its door when the Eucharist is present within. By way of metaphor, Catholics and Orthodox alike also refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the"
"also deliver the priestly blessing, during the repetition of the ""Shemoneh Esrei"". They perform this service by standing and facing the crowd in the front of the congregation, with their arms held outwards and their hands and fingers in a specific formation, with a Jewish prayer shawl or Talit covering their heads and outstretched hands so that their fingers cannot be seen. Kohanim living in Israel and many Sephardic Jews living in areas outside Israel deliver the priestly blessing daily; Ashkenazi Jews living outside Israel deliver it only on Jewish holidays. Outside the synagogue, the kohen leads the ""Pidyon Haben"""
"house""), and are found in Orthodox communities worldwide. Another type of communal prayer group, favored by some contemporary Jews, is the ""Chavurah"" (חבורה, pl. ""chavurot"", חבורות), or prayer fellowship. These groups meet at a regular place and time, either in a private home or in a synagogue or other institutional space. In antiquity, the Pharisees lived near each other in ""chavurot"" and dined together to ensure that none of the food was unfit for consumption. Some synagogues bear the title ""great synagogue"". Synagogue A synagogue (pronounced ; from Greek , ', 'assembly', ', 'house of assembly' or ', ""house of"
"laity do not normally step up onto the bema except to receive Holy Communion. Bema The bema, or bima, is an elevated platform used as an orator's podium in ancient Athens. In Jewish synagogues, it is also known as a bimah and is for Torah reading during services. In an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, a bema is the raised area around the ""aron kodesh"", or the sanctuary. In antiquity it was made of stone, but in modern times it is usually a rectangular wooden platform approached by steps. The Ancient Greek ""bēma"" () means both 'platform' and 'step', being derived from"
"in public, and sometimes at home. The hair covering may be a scarf, hat, snood called a Tichel, or a wig called a Sheitel. Women who do not follow all the regulations in everyday life, often do so during religious observances in a synagogue or elsewhere. Standards of modesty also apply to men. While some men will wear shorts and short-sleeve shirts, however strictly orthodox men will not. More modern Orthodox Jewish Men will be more lax in their dress when surrounded by other men (if it is not in a religious environment). Modesty for men most often translates to"
"stored in the ""tabernacle"". If the congregation had the fourfold ministry, the seven lamps, reminiscent of the seven-branched candlestick of the Jewish rituals, would hang over the chancel near the sanctuary. These would be lit in the morning and put out after the evening service. All lamps were oil lamps with wicks and only pure olive oil was used. There would be a special chair or ""throne"" for the angel at the end of the chancel on the left; in the middle of the chancel at the same level would be a special kneeler used by the angel during the"
"may also give religious commentary on current events and politics. Women do not sit with the men (because some communities of Orthodox Jews, especially Hasidim, are very strict about the separation of the sexes) but they are often present to observe the ""tish"" from the ""ezras noshim"" (""women's section"") in the main synagogue or hall where it is taking place. The women present do not sing aloud and they generally do not receive the ""shirayim"", although sometimes they do. A ""tish"" can vary in size from a handful to thousands of people. Large ""tishen"" are usually held in special rooms"
"sit on the twin octagonal towers at height. A rose stained-glass window sits over the main entrance. Similarly to basilicas, the building consists of three spacious richly decorated aisles, two balconies and, unusually, an organ. Its ark contains various torah scrolls taken from other synagogues destroyed during the Holocaust. The Central Synagogue in Manhattan, New York City is a near-exact copy of the Dohány Street Synagogue. The torah-ark and the internal frescoes made of colored and golden geometric shapes are the works of the famous Hungarian romantic architect Frigyes Feszl. A single-span cast iron supports the nave. The seats on"
"All sects refrain from eating pork, shellfish, or other ""unclean"" foods, as defined in the Bible at least on holy days. Most keep the Sabbath on Saturday, as well as all keeping at least the first Sunday of every month, as a Biblical Rosh Chodesh. Some refuse to serve on juries or file lawsuits against fellow church members. Church services, led by a Lector, are conducted predominantly in the local language, but also in Old Slavonic, which was common to the Orthodox Church. Men and women sit apart, and services are usually quite active. They have been using the liturgy"
"in question is preaching, but not participating otherwise. This use of the orarion on top of a cassock is most often seen among Greek-Catholics of the Ukrainian and Ruthenian tradition; this is a marked departure from general Byzantine practice, in which there is no tradition of wearing the orarion without sticharion. The subdeacon also wears the orarion, but always wrapped around his body in the manner described above. In the Greek tradition, tonsured taper-bearers wear the orarion similarly crossed in back, but with the ends hanging parallel in front. In the same Greek tradition, altar-servers will sometimes be given a"
"communities and may include additional facilities such as a catering hall, kosher kitchen, religious school, library, day care center and a smaller chapel for daily services. Since many Orthodox and some non-Orthodox Jews prefer to collect a minyan (a quorum of ten) rather than pray alone, they commonly assemble at pre-arranged times in offices, living rooms, or other spaces when these are more convenient than formal synagogue buildings. A room or building that is used this way can become a dedicated small synagogue or prayer room. Among Ashkenazi Jews they are traditionally called (, pl. or , Yiddish for ""little"
"Lord Has Seen Our Sacrifice – Come After Us."" The pulpits to the west end were reserved for the Aaronic Priesthood. The hall was fitted with enclosed pews with two aisles. The room could accommodate up to 3,500 people. Because there were pulpits on both ends of the room, the pews had movable backs which could be swung to face either direction, depending on who was presiding – the Melchizedek Priesthood or the Aaronic Priesthood. The first floor also included a mezzanine with fourteen small rooms. The two stairwells were constructed of dressed limestone walls. One rose from the northwest"
"the house. A traditional Orthodox family will gather together every day for morning and evening prayers. Sometimes, at the end of the prayers, the head of the household will take the hand censer and cense the icons and all of the members of the household. Often, in addition to the icon corner, a family will hang a small ""portal icon"" (usually of the Virgin and Christ Child) by the door, which is venerated by family and guests whenever going in or out of the house. Icon corner The icon corner, or red corner, ( and is a small worship space"