THE SYNAGOGUE AT MASADA

Remains of the synagogue on the summit of Masada

Synagogues were developed during the Second Temple era, and exercised an enormous influence on the development of Judaism - and on Christianity as well.

They were a revolutionary concept for their day, because they created an entirely new environment for worship of God. Unlike the Temple in Jerusalem, they had

• no ceremonial restrictions
• no obligatory financial contributions
• no sacrificial offerings.

Each synagogue became the focus of community life - at Masada as much as anywhere else. There was no Jewish community in Palestine or in the Diaspora without a synagogue.

This innovation made worship of God accessible to ordinary people. The synagogue became the focus of Torah study and of prayers - and of social and cultural life.

Other monotheistic religions adopted this pattern of worship, and it became the model for Christian churches and Islamic mosques.