Synagogue Compare And Contrast Essay

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Numerous synagogues around the world differ in architectural style, which is a reflection of faith and values. Five features, however, in the interior of synagogues that are consistent in every other synagogue includes: a Torah scroll, the Ark where the Torah scroll is stored, a table or platform where the Torah is unrolled while it is being read, a Yad, and a Seder or prayer book. Nonetheless, two synagogues from around the world that differ in architectural style is the Jubilee Synagogue in Prague (Czech Republic) and The Great Synagogue of Florence in Italy. The Jubilee Synagogue is the youngest synagogue in the Jewish Town of Prague. Also known as Jerusalem Synagogue for its location on Jerusalem street, it contains treasures and coloured ornaments that no other Jewish Temple offers. “…the centre of the western front …show more content…

Moreover, the synagogue was named Jubilee in honour of the 50th anniversary of the reign of emperor Franz Josef I of Austria (Prague City Line). On the contrary, The Great Synagogue of Florence is one of the largest in Europe and was inaugurated a few years after the Emancipation of the Italian Jews in 1861. The synagogue showcased how the way of life changed for European Jews ( Museum of the Jewish People). “The doors of the holy Ark, before which a light burns perpetually, still bear scars inflicted by the bayonets of fascist desecrators. During the Nazi occupation the synagogue was used as a garage, and it was also mined by the retreating Germans” (The Museums of Florence). Moreover, the centre of the pavement has the Star of David in black and yellow; the names of 248 Florentine Jews killed by the Nazis are seen in the garden of the temple, followed by a list of fallen Jews who fought for Italy during World War I (The Museums of Florence). In conclusion, The Jubilee Synagogue and The Great Synagogue of Florence differ in architectural style, reflecting the values of that