A building where Jewish people gather for worship, prayer, and religious study and community activities.
From Greek 'synagoge' meaning 'gathering' or 'assembly,' from 'syn' (together) and 'agoge' (leading). The word traveled through Greek to Latin to English, originally referring to any gathering but becoming specific to Jewish houses of worship.
The word 'synagogue' literally means 'gathering' in Greek—it's the same root as 'pedagogy' (leading children) and 'demagogue' (leading the people), showing that ancient people used 'agoge' for any kind of leadership or assembly!
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