Comparing a Jewish Synagogue and a Christian Church
This is a special building used by Jewish people for their worship. It is called a synagogue. What is the special building used by Christians for their worship called?
Christians worship in buildings called churches. This is a picture of St Lawrence s Church in the town of Evesham, Worcestershire.
When you arrive at a Jewish Synagogue the first thing you do is pass through a door with a mezuzah on it. The mezuzah holds special words from the Torah (the Jewish religious book). You touch the mezuzah and then kiss your fingers to show respect for God.
A kippa (head covering) is provided to remind the wearer that God is constantly present. A tallit (beautiful shawl) is also provided for all men to use when praying. What do you do when you arrive at a Christian church?
Traditionally, when men arrive at a Christian church they remove their hats as a sign of respect. You then either sit in benches called pews to listen to the church service or kneel on cushions to pray.
In the Jewish religion this symbol is very special. It is called the Star of David. It first appears in Ancient Rome and is used to represent the Jewish community. This symbol can be found in lots of different places both in and outside a Synagogue. What is the most well known symbol found in a Christian church?
You will find lots of symbols in Christian churches but the most recognised is the cross. It reminds Christians of the cross that Jesus was crucified on and of the sacrifices he made in his life. You will see crosses made of all different materials in churches metal, stone and wood like this one.
The most sacred space inside a Synagogue is the Ark. This is where the Torah scrolls are kept. The words of the ten commandments (laws) are usually incorporated in the design of the Ark. The Ark is always positioned on the wall that faces towards Jerusalem. The most scared space inside a Christian church is also the area where the altar is. How is the space decorated in a Christian church?
A church altar is often covered with a fine cloth and has special objects on it like crosses and candles. Many altars in churches face towards where Jesus lived, ministered and died The Holy Land. In this country the altar would face East.
The Torah, also known as the Five Books of Moses and is the most important book in Jewish life. It teaches how the world was created and instructs people how to live a good and religious life. What is the holy book used in Christian. churches called?
The Christian holy book is called the Bible. The Bible contains lots of different books with their own names. The first five books of the Bible are called: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are the same five books that are called the Five Books of Moses or the Torah.
The Torah Scroll is written in Hebrew and by hand. When you read Hebrew, you read it from right to left. The Torah Scroll is written on parchment (animal skin) and by hand. The person who copies and creates a new Torah Scroll is called a scribe. A scribe has to train for seven years before they are allowed to do this. What language is found in a Bible in a Christian church?
In this country, the Bible is written in English, although in older churches there are Bibles written in Latin. When you read the Bible, you read the words from left to right. The Bible is mainly printed on paper. Some older Bibles were written by hand and also contained drawings and pictures.
Decorations including stained glass windows can be found in Synagogues. They often contain religious symbols and stories from the Torah. They only represent things from nature and the environment. In Christian churches what can you see in the the stained glass windows?
In Christian churches stained glass windows are used to remind people of important events and stories. They often tell stories from the Bible and contain things from nature, the environment and can include people.
A Siddur is a prayer book used during a service. Siddur means order of service and in this country is written in both Hebrew and English. It also shows when to sing certain hymns. There are no instruments used during a service. What kind of instrument is most commonly found in Christian churches?
The most common musical instrument found in Christian churches is an organ. Organ music is played when people sing hymns and at Christmas, carols.
Thank you to Iris Segall and the Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation for their help and support. All the pictures of St Lawrence s Church were taken by Andy Marshall. All others are credit to The Churches Conservation Trust. St Lawrence s Church in Evesham is cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT).