10 Halachot You May Not Know, This Time: How to Behave in a Synagogue?

It is a mitzvah to treat synagogues with respect and reverence. The source of this commandment is the verse: "You shall fear your Hashem." Regarding this commandment, the author of 'Sefer Yereim' writes: "It is written 'You shall fear your Hashem' - commanding that when a person enters the Temple, synagogue, or study hall, they should conduct themselves with reverence and honor, as it is written 'Observe My Shabbat and revere My sanctuary' - you do not fear the sanctuary itself but the One who warned about the sanctuary, meaning Hashem.

In "Mishneh Torah," Book of Love, Laws of Prayer, Rambam rules in Chapter 11 regarding laws concerning the synagogue - its sanctity and reverence:

1. It is obligatory to establish a synagogue - Rambam rules that "every place where there are ten Jews must have a designated place where they can gather for prayer at every prayer time" and adds "the residents of a city can compel one another to build a synagogue and purchase a Torah scroll, Prophets, and Writings."

2. One should not behave frivolously in a synagogue - In another law, Rambam rules: "Synagogues and study halls - one should not behave frivolously in them, such as joking, mockery, and idle conversation. One should not eat in them, drink in them, beautify oneself in them, or stroll in them. One should not enter them in hot weather to escape the heat, nor in rainy weather to escape the rain."

3. Torah scholars are permitted to eat and drink in the synagogue - In the following law, Rambam notes that Torah scholars are permitted to eat and drink in a synagogue: "Sages and their students are permitted to eat and drink in them, when necessary."

4. Only matters of mitzvah may be conducted in a synagogue - It is forbidden to do anything in a synagogue or study hall except matters of mitzvah, as Rambam writes: "One should not make calculations in them unless they are calculations for a mitzvah, such as charity funds, redemption of captives, and similar matters. One should not deliver eulogies in them unless it is a eulogy for the public, such as when great scholars of that city have passed away, for whom all the people gather."

5. A synagogue should not be used as a shortcut - Due to the sanctity of the synagogue, it was ruled that "if a synagogue or study hall has two entrances, one should not use it as a shortcut by entering through one door and exiting through the opposite door to shorten one's path, for it is forbidden to enter them except for matters of mitzvah."

6. Is it permissible to enter a synagogue to call a friend who is there? - One should not enter a synagogue just to call a friend who is there, as Rambam states: "One who needs to enter a synagogue to call a child or a friend should enter and read a little or share a teaching, and only then call his friend, so that he does not enter solely for his personal needs."

7. Another option - In the continuation of the law, Rambam rules what a person should do if they need to call their friend who is in the synagogue but does not know how to study: "If he does not know [how to study], he should say to one of the children, 'Read me the verse you are studying,' or he should stay a while in the synagogue and then leave, for sitting there is itself a matter of mitzvah, as it is said, 'Happy are those who dwell in Your house.'"

8. What is the law regarding destroyed synagogues? "Synagogues and study halls that have been destroyed remain in their sanctity, as it is said, 'I will make your sanctuaries desolate' (Leviticus 26:31) - even though they are desolate, they remain in their sanctity. Just as one behaves in them when they are inhabited, so one behaves in them in their destruction, except for sweeping and sprinkling water. If weeds grow in them, one should not uproot them; and if they have been uprooted, one should leave them in their place so that people will see them, their spirits will be stirred, and they will strive to rebuild them."

9. Do not demolish a synagogue, even to build another in its place - Due to the sanctity of the synagogue, it was ruled that one should not demolish it, even to build another in its place: "One should not demolish a synagogue in order to build another in its place or elsewhere; rather, one should build another and only then demolish the first - lest an accident occur and they will not build. Even one wall of it - build the new one next to the old, and only then demolish the old."

10. The sanctity of a Torah scroll is the highest - In another law, Rambam notes that the sanctity of a study hall is higher than that of a synagogue, and the sanctity of a Torah scroll is the highest: "It is permissible to convert a synagogue into a study hall, but a study hall should not be converted into a synagogue, for the sanctity of a study hall exceeds the sanctity of a synagogue, and we ascend in holiness but do not descend... If they sold a Torah scroll, they may only purchase another Torah scroll with the proceeds, for there is no sanctity higher than the sanctity of a Torah scroll."