A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. There are multiple ways to practice/observe Judaism and therefore the design and layout of synagogues vary from one to the next. Using the Lloyd Street Synagogue as a reference, this section explores different features that can be found in the sanctuary of a synagogue.

The ark is a structure that contain the Torah scrolls when not in use. The ark in the Lloyd Street Synagogue is a reproduction based on the ark that the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation used. On this ark is a Hebrew Inscription: Know Before Whom You Stand.

The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). It is a special scroll written in Hebrew on parchment. The entirety of the Hebrew Bible is known as the Tanakh which is an acronym meaning Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The Torah is written in Hebrew. This is a language that many Jewish prayers and text are written in. It is an ancient language that was used during biblical times and is still used today.

The bimah (bee-mah) is a raised platform with a table that faces the ark. This is where prayers are led from and where the rabbi delivers the sermon. The bimah is sometimes located in the center of the synagogue. The bimah in the Lloyd Street Synagogue is located in the center of the synagogue and was installed by the Shomrei Mishmeres Ha-Kodesh congregation, dating to around 1905.

The eternal light, or Ner Tamid, is a lamp that is always lit in the sanctuary. The light is a symbol of G-d’s eternal presence and protection.

Above the ark in the Lloyd Street Synagogue is the stained-glass Star of David. The Star of David is a six-pointed star made of two superimposed triangles. It is a Jewish symbol. This stained-glass window is believed to be the oldest representation of a Jewish star in North American architecture.

As part of a traditional congregation, men and women of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation were seated separately. The balcony is where women would sit during services. This is a practice that is still common in some congregations today.  

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Interested in learning more about the Lloyd Street Synagogue and other historic synagogues in Maryland? Visit our Synagogues Stories page.