ABSTRACT
Scripture relates that Moses made a portable shrine (sanctuary) following God's instructions. From the time of Solomon's reign, the Temple served as the site for prayer and the offering of sacrifices to God. In addition to the communal sacrifices made daily, there were communal sacrifices offered on the Sabbath, festivals, and the New Moon. The Temple was also the site to which the Omer and the first fruits were brought on Shavuot. From the third to the eighth century ce, more than 100 synagogues existed in Israel, largely in Galilee. In general they followed several prototypes: the most common was the basilica form which consisted of a long hall divided by two rows of pillars into a central nave and two aisles. In the Middle Ages the synagogue dominated Jewish life. In most communities it was located at the centre of the Jewish quarter.
