Hey everyone,

I was listening to this sermon the other day, and the speaker briefly touched on the history of Jewish life after the Babylonian exile, spending most of that time on the function of the synagogue, since the subject was about certain struggles and issues within the early church between the Hellenist Jews and those that resided in Jerusalem. Obviously, the church services we Christians have are modeled after the functions of the synagogue, for we read in the Christian Scriptures that converted Jews turned their synagogues into the first churches of that time. But, what he discussed was really interesting, since I never studied much about it. One of the key things he said was that the purpose of the synagogue was to preserve Jewish life after the exile, to help the community where there were needs, and to stimulate practical living in accord to G-d's law. Whereas the Temple was the place of worship, the synagogue was to bring encourage and fellowship within the Jewish community. It was interesting, he began to show the various functions of the church-life modelling most of it  after it, including collections of food and sometimes money to help widows and those in need. Sure, not exactly identical or the same in every way, but still it is very encouraging, at least to me, to see this. 

Now, I thought it best to actually ask all of you a little more about that history, purpose, and function of the Jewish life in the synagogue (and maybe everything surrounding it). I am a little afraid to ask the "Messianic" bunch, as many of them seem really off on different things. If you have an article, or if you want to share something about it, please! Here are some starter questions from an outsider such as myself:

When did it begin, and why?

What were/are the functions of it, and what roles did/do the elders (or whoever it may be) play in it?

What does your synagogue services or function look like? What are some extra things your community does?

If anything I said is off, like my first paragraph, I will accept the criticism. Thank you for your time.

I am immediately new to your forum, so I hope I do not break any rules here. If I do I assure you it is not intentional. 

The backdrop for my question... 

I am nearing the end of the book of Numbers and it occurred to me that once the tribes settled in their individual lands, how did the people offer sacrifices of any sort? 

I know the various houses of the tribe of Levi were scattered throughout Israel, but the priests seem quite localized according to Joshua 21:13-19, and I imagine that the requirement to offer sacrifices just outside the tent of meeting at the altar was not amended to accommodate multiple locations once they settled in the land.

My specific inquiry...

I know about the required times of sacrifice which applied to all Israelites but according to Numbers 15, the wording seems to imply that whenever an individual sinned they were to offer sacrifice over which the Priest would administrate. Since humans have not changed at all, I imagine that the need to offer sacrifice therefore was quite regular. How then did say someone from the tribe of Asher, offer sacrifice when the nearest and in fact ONLY priests and tabernacle (so far as I know) was at best DAYS away? If I had lived in that time - I would have to have taken up residence in Judah just to keep up and I honestly try to obey the law.

In addition to this - what of all the other types of sacrifices like for guilt or even just a freewill offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow.

Can we list the potential ways of transliterating Polish Ashkenazi בֵּית, בֵֿית, פֵֿא [bajs], [vajs], [faj]? I already have transliterations in mind, but I want to see them.

Hello,

I am a Reformed Protestant here, not to evangelize/proselytize, but to learn more about the Jewish faith, culture, and quirks if that is welcome, as well as meet some of you. 

It was stated that I should try to give something that shows what I think is important about my personality. Hmm, I think wearing a shirt and a pair of pants shows that I am self-conscious about how I look without it


Thank you for having me, even though this site still looks like it is in development with very few members.

I am looking forward to good conversations.

Question: Who should I contact in regards to sensitive subjects?

At 30:00-30:33, I hear it as "Harcheik Mishachei, Ra".  Can someone help me with the correct Hebrew translation/English transliteration?  

Who Was The Ba'al Shem Tov? Founder of Hasidism Jewish History Lecture Dr. Henry Abramson

details: 

I was leisurely studying Jewish history through youtube and I encountered this video about the Baal Shem Tov.  In this video (at time 30:00-30:33), a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov spoke to my heart.  I'd been avoiding people because of the ideology of staying away from negative people. It's somewhat a common thinking nowadays and it was surprising it was in a mishnah of Pirke Avot "separate yourself from a bad neighbor". But the Baal Shem Tov, contradicts this saying the comma was misplaced and the correct meaning is: "If you distance yourself from a neighbor, that's a bad thing."

I'm not a Hebrew speaker but I am familiar with the alphabet and some words, and can read and write Hebrew.  However, I am not able to figure out the Hebrew of what the Baal Shem Tov said.  I like to know the original Hebrew reference in the Pirke Avot and study more about it.  In the video, I hear it as "Harkeych Mishachei, Ra".  Can someone help me with the correct Hebrew translation/transliteration?  

See Cave of the Patriarchs massacre.

I pray that we become a people who looks upon Goldstein, Kahane and Kach and insists: never again.

I'm usually not a huge fan of fireworks displays. . . But this is 64 seconds of the best I've ever seen in my life.

My name is Aryeh, I was on the old version as Aryeh Jay.

I will not be in a position - literally or figuratively - to do much posting over the next several weeks. I slipped and fell in a parking lot. Little scrapes on both knees, nasty cuts on both palms, a cut over my right eye requiring 6 stitches............ and I broke my right arm.

I will keep an eye on the forum, but typing with one hand, my left and I am right handed, is laborious so I wil be posting only if something really really important appears to need my input. Even then I expect to be brief.