A few questions about Judaism

[ralliann]

I guess it depends on what the definition of "worship" is. The passage here is a conversation between Jesus (a Jew) and a Samaritan. The Samaritans worship (to this day) and had their temple on Mt. Gerizim, in contrast to the Jews who had their temple and worshiped at Jerusalem. The Samaritans numbered in the hundreds of thousands, or more, and were a competitive religion to the Jews. So, it is not really relevant to a conversation on what "worship" may have been happening in synagogues, it is more in relation to Temple services and the Temple cult.

Synagogue services consisted of readings of the Torah, a homily/talk by the reader and leader, corporate and personal prayers, and lifecycle events including conversions, etc. A synagogue service of today is very similar, if you have not been to one. Then, a Christian service is also similar as it is consisting of readings from scripture, a homily, etc.

I am honestly not sure how the services changed after the Temple was destroyed. Synagogues in the diaspora always included much corporate and personal prayer, readings, etc. as scripture tells us our prayers are what God desires. The synagogues were the center of the weekly lifecycle outside of Jerusalem as these Jews could not go to the Temple frequently, if they ever even did.

Three times in the year were mandatory were'nt they?

 

[tampasteve]

Three times in the year were mandatory were'nt they?

The mandate is not really where I am getting at here, the synagogue helped Jews maintain their identity and religion, and became the sole focus after the Temple. Prior to its destruction they were still pivotal in maintaining Jewish culture and beliefs in both Israel and the diaspora. They had a well developed service of prayer, scripture, and teaching on the sabbath and other days. By Yeshua's time there were synagogues in nearly every town in Judea, Galilee, Idumaea, etc, and in the cities with a Jewish presence all around the world, particularly the Roman world. Sarmatians had their own version in their towns in Samaria.

 

[ralliann]

The mandate is not really where I am getting at here, the synagogue helped Jews maintain their identity and religion, and became the sole focus after the Temple. Prior to its destruction they were still pivotal in maintaining Jewish culture and beliefs in both Israel and the diaspora. They had a well developed service of prayer, scripture, and teaching on the sabbath and other days. By Yeshua's time there were synagogues in nearly every town in Judea, Galilee, Idumaea, etc, and in the cities with a Jewish presence all around the world, particularly the Roman world. Sarmatians had their own version in their towns in Samaria.

I understand they had synagogues all over and taught the law and prophets. Scripture says as much. But They were to draw near and appear at the temple and for liturgical service. Was there any command to "liturgy" apart from the temple ministry?

 

[tampasteve]

I understand they had synagogues all over and taught the law and prophets. Scripture says as much. But They were to draw near and appear at the temple and for liturgical service. Was there any command to "liturgy" apart from the temple ministry?

I don't think it is a "command" so much from written scripture, but it also depends on how much you believe in the "oral Law". Certain prayers and actions have to take place in community with other worshipers/Jews, so it is natural that a liturgy would develop out of these prayers and actions. Living further than a few hours travel (max) from the Temple would naturally encourage a synagogue to develop to facilitate these prayers and life cycle events in community. The liturgy would also be similar to what was done in the Temple, less the sacrifice of course. But no, I am not aware of any command to "worship" in community per-se, many prayers can be done in family and alone, and indeed many Jews worship in this manner.

 

[ralliann]

I don't think it is a "command" so much from written scripture, but it also depends on how much you believe in the "oral Law". Certain prayers and actions have to take place in community with other worshipers/Jews, so it is natural that a liturgy would develop out of these prayers and actions.

When I said "command to liturgy" I should have said is there any liturgical works (ie service) apart from the priesthood at the temple? If not then did or does oral law have a different definition for the term than scripture? As you have stated certain prayers have to take place in community. Is that not what the holy convocations were for?
But from what I have read, there was a "transfer" of things of the temple to synagogue.

 

[tampasteve]

When I said "command to liturgy" I should have said is there any liturgical works (ie service) apart from the priesthood at the temple? If not then did or does oral law have a different definition for the term than scripture? As you have stated certain prayers have to take place in community. Is that not what the holy convocations were for?

The Sabbath does have Holy Convocations (Lev. 23 2-3), and if one is not in traveling distance from the Temple then one needs to gather somehow - hence how synagogues developed as a natural community gathering place. The other Holy Days also necessitated somewhere to gather for those not able to travel to the Temple. Outside of Holy Days we have community rites and lifecycle events that would take place there.

But from what I have read, there was a "transfer" of things of the temple to synagogue.

Broadly, yes, that is correct to my understanding as well.