The Great Global Shul Crawl

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Shul Crawl

THE GREAT GLOBAL

Take a trip around the world, solve the cluesand discover synagogues throughout Jewish history

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Shul:

Yiddish slang for synagogue. AS IN: "Oy vey! We're late for shul!"

- urban dictionary

OF Greek origin (synagein, “to bring together”), meanING “A place of assembly"

Synagogue:

Where in the world is this

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Shul?

Solve the Clues!

1

CLUE 01: Established in 1701

CLUE 02: The builder refused to take payment for building a house of God

CLUE 03: Sir Moses Montefiore had a special seat here

CLUE 04: It is said that Princess Anne, who later became queen, presented an oak beam from one of the Royal Navy ships to be incorporated into the roof

WELL DONE! The Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, England

Established in 1701, the synagogue is still an active community today. It was founded by Jews from Spain and Portugal who returned to England in the 17th century, after an absence of more than 300 years. The synagogue still has many of its original decorations and furnishings, including wooden benches and candelabras that still hold candles on special occasions.

Find out more...

Next SHUL

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Where in the world is this

Shul?

OOPS! Try again

Where in the world is this

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Shul?

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Where in the world is this

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Solve the Clues!

CLUE 01: Built around the Third Century CE

CLUE 02: Located in the ancient city of Sardis, it was part of a complex that included a gymnasium, stores and a bathhouse

CLUE 03: Built in the style of a Roman basilica lined with columns, with inscriptions in Hebrew and Greek

CLUE 04: Exceptionally large and could accommodate 1,000 people

WELL DONE! The Sardis Synagogue in Turkey

These are the ruins of the synagogue in Sardis, Turkey, discovered during excavations conducted in 1962. The synagogue was destroyed in 616 CE when the city was conquered by the Persians. It was never rebuilt and there was never a Jewish community in Sardis again.

Find out more...

Next SHUL

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OOPS! Try again

Where in the world is this

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Solve the Clues!

CLUE 01: Originally called the New Synagogue

CLUE 02: Twelve windows correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel

CLUE 03: Famous for the legend of the Golem, a creature made of clay and brought to life in order to save the Jews of the city

CLUE 04: The oldest functioning synagogue in Europe

WELL DONE! The Altneuschul, Prague, Czech Republic

The Altneuschul ("Old-New Synagogue") was built in 1270 in Josefov, the Jewish quarter of Prague. It was originally called the New Synagogue, but as the years passed and other synagogues were built, it was renamed the Old-New Synagogue. The Altneuschul was one of six synagogues left standing and preserved after the last forced structural changes to the Jewish quarter in the 20th century, a testament to the intricate Jewish history of Prague over the centuries

Find out more...

Next SHUL

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Shul?

OOPS! Try again

Where in the world is this

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Solve the Clues!

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CLUE 01: Tensions within the Jewish community in the area resulted in a split and the building of an Ashkenazi synagoague in 1719 and a Sephardi synagogue in 1735

CLUE 02: The Ashkenazi synagogue cost 60,000 guilders to build, an enormous sum for the time

CLUE 03: The synagogue has a unique sandy floor

CLUE 04: Currently the only operating synagogue in the country

WELL DONE! The Neve Shalom Synagogue, Suriname

Fewer than 200 Jews remain in Suriname today, but the Neve Shalom Synagogue is the center of Jewish life in the country. According to tradition, the synagogue's unique sandy floor is a reminder of the Hebrews’ 40 years in the desert. It is also said to remember the days of the Inquisition when practicing Judaism was punishable by death and Jews covered the floor with sand to muffle the sounds of their prayers.

Find out more...

Next SHUL

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Shul?

OOPS! Try again

Where in the world is this

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Shul?

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Solve the Clues!

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CLUE 01: Called the 'foreigners' synagogue after an influx of Sephardi Jews who were exiled from Europe and West Asia

CLUE 02: The road that it was built on came to be known as Jews Street or Synagogue Lane, and the district as Jew Town

CLUE 03: The floor is paved with hundreds of old hand-painted porcelain tiles brought from China

CLUE 04: The synagogue celebrated its 400th anniversary in 1968

WELL DONE! Paradesi Synagogue in Cochin, India

This synagogue is the oldest active Jewish house of prayer in India. 'Paradesi' is a word used in several Indian languages, literally meaning "foreigners". The synagogue's design draws on many influences, for example featuring Hindu-inspired decorative brass and glass oil-burning lamps that hang from the ceiling, as well as Belgian glass chandeliers,

Find out more...

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Where in the world is this

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

OOPS! Try again

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Which synagogue interested you the most? Why?

What is similar or different about the shuls you saw vs the shuls you know or visit?

Do you belong to a shul community?

If you were starting a new shul, what would you call it?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Want more? Discover a treasure trove of fun online learning experiences at the National Library of Israel

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