The Jewish word for synagogue is beth ha-knesset, house of assembly. This means that wherever Jewish people live, the synagogue lies at the very center of communal life. (Gruber, 1999) Of all Muslim institutions, the mosque is the most important place for the public expression of the Islamic religion and communal identity. A mosque is physical proof of the public presence of Muslims and serves as a point of convergence for Islamic social and intellectual activity. (Frishman, 1994) The Jewish synagogue and the Islamic Mosque have some things in common as to what they represent in a city and how everyday life and practices are centered around them. There are also some similarities as to what one would find inside a synagogue and a mosque. But there are some differences as well. These differences include certain things that are not allowed one building that m

Jewish synagogues may contain more detailed paintings of people, places, or events. The Jewish synagogue Beit Alpha, found in North Israel in the 6th century, has a mosaic floor showing Noah’s flood. Some synagogues have drawings of zodiac signs, and others even show the sacrifice of Isaac. (Akedah) (Gruber, 1999)

I’ve tried to compare Jewish synagogues and Islamic mosques. I have shared some of the differences that exist as well as some similarities. I’ve shared how they are alike in that they changed to suit the people who worshipped in them. I’ve showed how the design of the building has meaning and showed the differences of what kinds of art are accepted in both structures. Both have great meaning to the people that accompany them and they are both the centers of their own civilizations.

Figurative representation is rare, even forbidden, in Islam, most painting is confined to purely decorative purposes. Also, throughout Islamic mosques, one may find that a large portion of the art is made with brick and stucco. Clay is the substance from which man was made. Its transformation through stucco was the first task of the architect who wished to transform mankind, or god. Calligraphy is impor

Some topics in this essay:
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