 Originally, synagogues were made devoid of much furniture, the Jewish congregants in Spain, the Maghreb (North Africa), Babylonia, the Land of Israel and Yemen having a custom to sit upon the floor, which had been strewn with mats and cushions, rather than upon chairs or benches.In other European towns and cities, however, Jewish congregants would sit upon chairs and benches.Today, the custom has spread in all places to sit upon chairs and benches.