Framework of Prototypical Intent

When following the apostle Paul in the book of Acts during his journeys to Asia Minor, it became apparent there were numerous synagogues he visited. Well before that, extending back into the intertestamental period and through the life of Christ, the synagogues of second-temple Israel were among Jewish populations throughout Mediterranean territories. They were gathering locations formed to provide various functions in the delivery of community services rooted in Judaism. The structure and organization of the synagogue were roughly common regardless of its geographical position as its purpose and similarities were centered on relationships among Jewish and God-fearing people. Moreover, the relationship of the Jewish members of a local synagogue appears to be deeply grounded in devotion to Yahweh according to tradition and covenant responsibilities as given by the Torah, the prophets, the writings, wisdom literature, and historical predecessors of influence within Judaism.

Functions

Activities surrounding the functional purpose of a synagogue were numerous. A synagogue operates as a Judaic community center that provides religious instruction with two areas of primary activity. Scripture reading and prayer together constituted the communicative activity between Yahweh and His people. Whether through Scripture by scrolls kept at a synagogue or from prayers, benedictions, and maledictions that were offered together before Yahweh, the Jewish people were socially together in congregations of fellowship and common belief.

Depending upon respective areas of concentration, a synagogue served as a site that operated as a Judaic community center. From the intertestamental period to first-century Judea and beyond, it was of significant influence as it continued to operate in service of Jewish communities. It served as an institution for religious instruction, it operated as a facility for meetings, and it functioned as a court for judgment and discipline. The local synagogue hosted students for academic work and school life.

Synagogue Recitals of Blessings & Woe

The Eighteen Tefillah of Shemoneh Esre (Amidah)

1. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great, mighty, and revered God, God Most High, who art the Creator of heaven and earth, our Shield and the Shield of our fathers, our confidence from generation to generation. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Shield of Abraham!
2. Thou art mighty, who bringest low the proud, strong, and He that judgeth the ruthless, that liveth forever, that raiseth the dead, that maketh the wind to blow, that sendeth down the dew; that sustaineth the living, that quickeneth the dead; in the twinkling of an eye Thou makest salvation to spring forth for us. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who quickenest the dead!
3. Holy art Thou and Thy Name is to be feared, and there is no God beside Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the holy God!
4. O favor us, our Father, with knowledge from Thyself and understanding and discernment from Thy Torah. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who vouchsafest knowledge!
5. Cause us to return, O Lord, unto Thee, and let us return anew [in repentance] in our days as in the former time. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who delightest in repentance.
6. Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned against Thee; blot out and cause our transgressions to pass from before Thine eyes, for great is Thy mercy. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who dost abundantly forgive!
7. Look upon our affliction and plead our cause, and redeem us for the sake of Thy Name. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Redeemer of Israel!
8. Heal us, O Lord our God, from the pain of our heart; and weariness and sighing do Thou cause to pass away from us; and cause Thou to rise up healing for our wounds. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who healest the sick of Thy people Israel!
9. Bless for us, O Lord our God, this year for our welfare, with every kind of the produce thereof, and bring near speedily the year of the end of our redemption; and give dew and rain upon the face of the earth and satisfy the world from the treasuries of Thy goodness, and do Thou give a blessing upon the work of our hands. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who blessest the years!
10. Blow the great horn for our liberation, and lift a banner to gather our exiles. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who gatherest the dispersed of Thy people Israel!
11. Restore our judges as at the first, and our counselors as at the beginning; and reign Thou over us, Thou alone. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who lovest judgment!
12. For apostates let there be no hope, and the dominion of arrogance [Rome] do Thou speedily root out in our days; and let the Nazarenes [Christians] and the heretics perish as in a moment, let them be blotted out of the book of the living and let them not be written with the righteous. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who humblest the arrogant!
13. Towards the righteous proselytes may Thy tender mercies be stirred; and bestow a good reward upon us together with those that do Thy will. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the trust of the righteous!
14. Be merciful, O Lord our God, in Thy great mercy towards Israel Thy people, and towards Jerusalem Thy City, and towards Zion the abiding place of Thy glory, and towards Thy glory, and towards Thy temple and Thy habitation, and towards the kingdom of the house of David, Thy righteous anointed one. Blessed art Thou, O God, God of David, the Builder of Jerusalem!
15. Hear, O Lord our God, the sound of our prayer and have mercy upon us, for a God gracious and merciful art Thou. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who hearest prayer!
16. Accept us, O Lord our God, and dwell in Zion; and may Thy servants serve Thee in Jerusalem. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, whom in reverent fear we serve!
17. We give thanks to Thee, who art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers, for all the good things, the lovingkindness, and the mercy which Thou hast wrought and done with us and with our fathers before us: and if we said, Our feet slip, Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, upheld us. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, unto whom it is good to give thanks!
18. Bestow Thy peace upon Israel Thy people and upon Thy city and upon Thine inheritance and bless us, all of us together. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who makest peace!

Services

The influence a local synagogue had on Jewish life was most pronounced through its formation, activity, and how it was organized. Members of the synagogue were members of the community who also had social and market influence. Their attendance and participation had a bearing on trade, work, and daily life within the community. Their interpersonal and social obligations originated from principles taught and heard through the reading of Scripture within the local synagogue, and certainly more contemporary at the time through instruction whether oral or written. The study of Scripture and its audible intake made a lasting impression to inform beliefs and daily conduct. The absorption of God’s instructions through the Torah and other books of the Old Testament also shaped member’s views, adorations, and petitions as uttered by their prayers to Yahweh.

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1. Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, Third Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003), 578–579.