1. State the two meanings of the word “synagogue”. [2]
The word “synagogue” means “to bring together” and “house of assembly”.
2. Name the feature of a synagogue described in each statement. [3]
The Aron ha-kodesh (Holy Ark).
The Bimah (raised reading desk).
The Ner tamid (eternal light).
3. State what is kept inside the Mezuzah, and name the prayer those words come from. [2]
Inside the Mezuzah is a small scroll with words on it. These words come from the Shema, an important Jewish prayer.
4. Name three items of Jewish ritual dress. [3]
Any three of:
- Tallit (prayer shawl)
- Tefillin (phylacteries)
- Kippah / yarmulke (skull cap)
5. State two things that are not found in a synagogue. [2]
Any two of: images of God, statues of humans, or pictures of people.
6. The Ner tamid (eternal light) is never allowed to go out. Explain what this reminds Jewish people of. [2]
The light is kept burning all the time and is never allowed to go out. This reminds Jewish people of God’s constant presence — the idea that God is always with them.
7. The Tallit has six hundred and thirteen (613) tzitzit. Explain the symbolism of these tassels. [3]
The tzitzit are the special tassels (knotted threads) at the corners of the prayer shawl. They remind the wearer of God’s commandments (rules). Seeing and touching them helps the person remember to follow those commandments during their daily life.
8. Describe how the seating of men and women in the synagogue can be different in Orthodox and Reform traditions. [4]
- Orthodox: men and women sit separately. Women often sit in a separate area, such as a balcony or a section divided by a screen.
- Reform: men and women usually sit together, often as families.
9. Shabbat candles and Challah are both used at home for Shabbat. Explain the meaning and importance of each one. [4]
- Shabbat candles: they are lit at home to welcome Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. Lighting them marks the start of this holy time and brings light and a peaceful feeling into the home.
- Challah: a special plaited (braided) bread eaten during Shabbat meals (usually two loaves). It is an important part of the meal and helps make the day feel special and holy.
10. Tefillin are placed on the arm and on the head during prayer. Explain what this shows about how the worshipper serves God. [3]
Tefillin are two small leather boxes containing words from the holy texts. One is placed on the arm and one on the head. This shows that the worshipper serves God with their actions (the arm) and with their thoughts (the head).
11. The synagogue has two main roles in Jewish life. [6]
The synagogue is the main building where Jewish people gather to pray together, especially on Shabbat and during festivals. It is where the Torah is read aloud during services, and where people worship as a community rather than only on their own at home.
The synagogue is more than a place to pray. It is also a place of study, where children and adults learn about their faith, the Torah and Hebrew. It is a meeting place where people come together, support one another and feel part of a group, and it is used for important life events and celebrations the community shares.
12. The Sefer Torah is both a feature of the synagogue and an artefact used in worship. [5]
Inside the Aron ha-kodesh (Holy Ark).
The Sefer Torah (Torah scrolls) contains the holy Jewish law, hand-written in Hebrew. It is read aloud during services. It is treated with great respect because it holds God’s words: it is hand-written with great care, and people do not touch the writing directly — a pointer is used instead. This shows how holy the words of the Torah are.
13. Choose three artefacts used in Jewish worship. For each one, explain its use and its meaning or importance. [6]
Any three artefacts, for example:
- Kiddush cup: a special cup that holds wine (or grape juice). It is used to say a blessing at the start of Shabbat and festivals, which helps make the day holy and set apart from ordinary days.
- Mezuzah: a small case fixed to the doorpost of a home, containing words from the Shema. Many Jewish people touch it as they pass through the door, as a reminder of God and their faith.
- Mikvah: a special bath used for washing in a religious way. It is used at certain important times to make a person spiritually clean and ready (it is about religious cleanliness, not ordinary washing).
14. Explain why there are no images of God, no statues of humans and no pictures of people in a synagogue, and how this helps Jewish people in their worship. [4]
Jewish teaching says that God should not be shown as a picture or statue. For this reason a synagogue has no images of God, no statues of humans and no pictures of people. Avoiding these images helps people worship God directly, without anything getting in the way, so that worship focuses on God alone.
15. “All Jewish people wear the same ritual dress in the same way.” [6]
The statement is not correct because there are different views in different Jewish traditions about when ritual dress is worn and who wears it:
- Orthodox: items such as the tallit and tefillin are usually worn by men for prayer.
- Reform: both men and women may choose to wear items such as the tallit and kippah.
So whether ritual dress is worn, and who wears it, is not the same for everyone.
The Kippah (skull cap) is worn on the head as a sign of respect for God. Wearing it reminds the person that God is always above them.
