amy: Synagogues

After going to the Jewish synagogues within the Jewish quarter of Prague, I find both the religion and the art to be incredibly fascinating. I have always found the Jewish history and culture to be one of the most extensive, complex and unbelievable in the entire world. The synagogues put this in perspective. In class, we learned how the Talmud came to into being after the destruction of the Temple and how specific Judaist practices began. I had never thought deeply on the traditions of today’s Judaism versus the Law of the Old Testament. After hearing the specifics in class, the pieces seemed to fall into place. I am glad we were able to study these aspects before I went to the Jewish synagogues in Prague. The synagogues displayed the entirety of these traditions. There is so much that one could easily get overwhelmed by the precision and daily devotion that goes into Judaism. The synagogues are filled with remnant after remnant of the life led within the Jewish Quarter in Prague for many, many generations. Even the synagogues themselves seem to scream of the difference between Old Testament law and New Testament living. In the synagogues, one sees the benches on the perimeter with the ark typically at the front of the synagogue. The ark holds to Torah. Another feature of the synagogue which is interesting would be the women’s section in the balcony. All these things would be foreign to one who has only experienced the Christian tradition. I am glad we were able to cover some of Judaism in our Religion and Art course.