31 b; Sabbath, 118 b). It is necessary to bear in mind
that the ancient name for this ark is n!3B (comp. 3 Mishna, Berakoth, v, 3, 4; Taanith, u,\, 2; Me- gillah, iv, 4, etc.), the name afterwards given to it (■|iTN) being reserved for the ark-of-the-covenant table, which was wanting in the second Temple. There was a canopy (nb'^S) spread over the ark, under which were kept the vestments used during the service (Jerusalem ^fegillah, iii). In some places the ark or chest had two compartments, the upper one containing the scrolls of the law, and the lower the synagogical garments of the officers of the community. The ark was not fastened to the wall, but was free, so that it might easily be tak- en outside the door of the synagogue in case a death occurred in the place of worship, in order that the priests should be able to attend the ser- vice; or be removed into the streets when fasts and days of humiliation were kept (iMishna, Ta- anith, ii, 1). See Fast. In later times, however, a recess was made in the wall, and the ark was kept there. This recess was called the Sanctuary (bD"^ii, TTlp). The same thought was sometimes
SYNAGOGUE
74
SYNAGOGUE
Jewish Synagogue iu Amsterdam.
(levelopeil still further in the name of Kophereth, or ISIercy-seat, given to the lid or door of the chest, and in the veil which hung before it (Yitringa, p. 181). On certain occasions the ark was removed from the recess and placed on the rostrum (iTa'i3=j3(');i/a) in the mid- dle of the synagogue {Tosiphta Mer/illah, n'l; Maimon- ides, lad Ha-Chezaka llilchath Luluh,\\\, 23). See Tabeuxacles, Feast of. Within the ark, as above stated, were the rolls of the sacred books. The rollers round which they were wound were often elaborately ilecorated, the cases for them embroidered or enamelled, according to their material. Such cases were customary offerings from the rich when they brought their infant children on the first anniversary of their birthday to be blessed by the rabbi of the synagogue.
In front of the ark was the desk of the leader of the divine worship; and as the place of the ark was amphitheatral, the desk was sometimes lower and some- times higher than the level of the room. Hence the interchangeable phrases "Ae 7rho descends before the ark'^ (Jl^'T'n "^SS? TiVn) and "Ae who ascends before the ark" (n^'^rfl ''lES "I^ISTI) used to designate the leader of divine worship in the synagogue (IMishna, Taanith, ii, 2; Berakoth, v, 4 ; Rosh Uu-Shanah, iv, 7; Merplluh. iv, 3, 5, 7, etc.).
The next important piece of furniture was the ros- trum or platform (^r; b'15-2, ■TC"'3=/3/)/in, S"p'l>l3), capable of containing several persons (Neh. viii, 4: ix, 4; Josephus, Ant. iv, 8, 12). On this platform the les- sons from the law and the propliets were read, dis- courses delivered, etc. (Misbna, Sntnh, viii, 8; Babylon iSi/kk(ih,bl b; Me<jilliih,'li> b). See IlAriiTAUAH. Tiiere were no arrangements made at first for laying duwn the law while reading, and the one upon whom it devolved to read a portion of the pericojjc had to hold the roll in his hand till the second one came up to read, and re- lieved him of it. Afterwards, however, there was a reading-desk ("p5''P;5< = «i'«\i)ytr()j') on this platform, and the roll of the law was laid down during pauses.
read (Yoma, 68 b: M<i/il/(ih.-2Gh; Jeru- salem M<<jillah. iii), Tlie reading-desk was covered with a cloth (NO^Q), which va- ried in costliness ac- cording to the cir- cumstances of the congregation {MpfjU- hi/i.,2G'h). Whon'the edifice was large this lilatform was gener- ally in the centre, as was the case in the synagogue at Alex- andria (Siikkahjbl b). There were also arm-chairs ('plirp,
r^:N--iri^ =KaS>l-
Tijptt;), or seats of honor (npcoroicaBi- dpiai), for the elders of the synagogue, the doctors of the law, etc. (Matt. xxiii,2,6; Mark xii, 39; Luke xi,48; Siikkahjbl b; ]M aim on ides, I/il- choth TfjJrila, X. 4), to whieli the wealthy and honored wor- 2,3). They were placed the law, or at the Jeru-
shipper was invited (James ii in front of the ark containiiu salem end, in the uppermost part of the synagogue, and these distinguished persons sat with their faces to the people, while the congregation stood facing both these honorable ones and the ark (Tosiphta Mci/il/ah, iii). In the synagogue at Alexandria there were sev- enty-one golden chairs, according to the number of the members of the Great Sanhedrim {iSiikkuh, 51 b). See Sanhedrim. In the synagogue of Bagdad " the as- cent to the holy ark was composed of ten marble steps, on the uppermost of which were the stalls set apart ibr the prince of the Captivity and the other princes of the house of David" (Benjamin of Tudela, Iliittrary. i, 105, ed.Ascher, Lond. 1840). '
There was, moreover, a perpetual light (l^lin "1*^3), which was evidently in imitation of the Tem|ile light (Exod. xxviii, 20). This sacred light was religiously fed bj' the people, and in case of an\' special mercy vouchsafed to an individual, or of threatening danger, a certain quantity of oil was vowed for the perpetual lamp. This light was the symbol of the human soul (Prov. XX, 27), of the divine law (vi, 23), and of the manifes- tation of (iod (Kzek. xliii, 2). It must, however, be re- marked that though the perpetual lamp forms an es- sential part of the synagogical furniture to the present day, and has obtained among the Indians, Greeks. Ro- mans, and other nations of antiquity ( Kosenmiiller, Mcr- rjeit/timl. ii, 15<i), yet there is no mention made of it in the Tahnud. Other lamps, brought by devout worshi])- pcrs, were lighted at the beginning of the Sabbath, i. e. on Friday evening (Vitringa, p. 198).