|Part of a series on| |Jews and Judaism| A synagogue, also
spelled synagog (from Greek: συναγωγή transliterated synagogē,
meaning "assembly"; בית כנסת beyt knesset, meaning "house of
assembly"; בית תפילה beyt t'fila, meaning "house of prayer"; שול
shul; אסנוגה esnoga; קהל kal) is a Jewish house of prayer. When
broken down, the word could also mean "learning together" (from
the Greek συν syn, together, and αγωγή agogé, learning or
training). Synagogues have a large hall for prayer (the main
sanctuary), and can also have smaller rooms for study and
sometimes a social hall and offices. Some have a separate room
for Torah study, called the beit midrash(Sfard) "beis midrash
(Ashkenaz)—בית מדרש ("House of Study"). Synagogues are
consecrated spaces that can be used only for the purpose of
prayer; however a synagogue is not necessary for worship.
Communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews (a
minyan) assemble. Worship can also be carried out alone or with
fewer than ten people assembled together. How