Arche Sainte (Synagogue)
An ark - called - is to say, the by Ashkenazim or - Orientation
The arch is located in the synagogue so that turning to the ark for prayer, members of the community have turned to Jerusalem , it often returns to the western communities to place the ark on the east wall of place of worship or westward for communities located east of Israel. Synagogues in Israel are always oriented toward Jerusalem. Sometimes, certain places of worship do not allow placing the ark in the right direction, the community still looks to Jerusalem to pray.
The earliest occurrence of this practice attested by archeology is in the synagogue of Dura Europos.
Description
The ark reminds the Ark of the Covenant of the biblical tradition, carried by the Israelites from the desert of Sinai until the Land of Israel , which contained the tables of the Ten Commandments. The Ark of the Covenant was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple of Jerusalem , similarly, the holy ark of a synagogue is the holiest place of worship. The ark is often closed by doors and a curtain called paro'het - , inside or outside doors. It is sometimes elevated by a few steps to climb when members of the community will take the scrolls of the Torah into his reading public.
According to the traditions of each community, some prayers are pronounced by keeping open the holy ark. The members of the community generally, so stand up rather than sitting in a deep solemnity.
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