# Question for Jewish Dopers: Does a synagogue have to be subjected to any ritual before it can be used for something else? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2023, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837 "2023-11-29T05:12:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/1 "2023-11-29T05:12:06Z")
I thought of this because the synagogues in my town consolidated, and I found out today that the main one is now in the process of transforming into a YMCA community center. It’s a beautiful building in a low-income neighborhood, so I’m glad it’s going to still be useful. Anyway, I know that many churches undergo deconsecration if the building is going to be used for something else after a congregation moves out. Does a synagogue have to undergo something similar? ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/2 "2023-11-29T11:15:34Z")
There appears to be no halacich (legally proscribed) procedure > **[CORR 9-13 - Central Conference of American Rabbis](https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-responsa/corr-9-13/)** > > DEDICATION OF A SYNAGOGUE QUESTION: Is there a fixed tradition and ceremony for deconsecrating an old synagogue about to be abandoned or sold and, following that, a ceremony of dedication of a new synagogue? (Asked by Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn, Boston,... ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/3 "2023-11-29T11:50:34Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Anyway, I know that many churches undergo deconsecration if the building is going to be used for something else after a congregation moves out. Does a synagogue have to undergo something similar? No. In my area we recently had two Reform synagogues consolidate into one group. They sold one of the two buildings - it is now a Christian church. The money made from the sale was put into the building fund for the building they kept. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/4 "2023-11-29T11:58:25Z")
As a general rule, Judaism does not see the synagogue building as sacred.\*. What is sacred are the ritual objects inside the building , which are used in worship. \*Unlike say, a Cathiolic cathedral, where the building itself must be shaped like a cross, and within the building the altar is a sacred spot.) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/5 "2023-11-29T12:30:52Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > As a general rule, Judaism does not see the synagogue building as sacred.\*. > What is sacred are the ritual objects inside the building , which are used in worship. I think the idea is that having the Torah scrolls in a synagogue makes it sacred, because it is now the home of the scrolls. That’s why bringing a scroll into a shul is such a big deal: > **[Inauguration of a Torah scroll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_a_Torah_scroll)** > > Inauguration of a Torah scroll (Hebrew: הכנסת ספר תורה, Hachnasat Sefer Torah; Ashkenazi: Hachnosas Sefer Torah) is a ceremony in which one or more Torah scrolls are installed in a synagogue, or in the sanctuary or study hall of a yeshiva, rabbinical college, university campus, nursing home, military base, or other institution, for use during prayer services. The inauguration ceremony is held for new and restored scrolls alike, as well as for the transfer of Torah scrolls from one sanctuary to ... Once you take the scrolls out, it’s just a building. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/6 "2023-11-29T12:39:37Z")
The ark holding the scrolls is sacred. The building, not so much. But I aint no expert. I’m just talking about the general atmosphere and social attitudes of the folks using the buliding.(especially among American Jews, which I think is what the OP is asking.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/7 "2023-11-29T12:41:21Z")
A friend of mine wanted to turn an old synagogue into a nightclub and call it ‘synagogo’. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/8 "2023-11-29T12:57:11Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Unlike say, a Cathiolic cathedral, where the building itself must be shaped like a cross, and within the building the altar is a sacred spot. Say what? There are plenty of Catholic churches, and even some cathedrals, that are not shaped like a cross. There’s a long tradition of round churches—the Aachen Cathedral is one example, but there must be dozens more. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/9 "2023-11-29T13:01:46Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > There appears to be no halacich (legally proscribed) procedure Do you mean “proscribed” or “prescribed”? If the former, that might explain [this news report](https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/temple-b-nai-israel-to-conduct-last-service-in-synagogue-sunday/article_e2f6a755-fad7-5933-b41d-e8eb51bacda1.html) about a New York synagogue undergoing some sort of formal deconsecration procedure (emphasis mine): > [@](#): > > OLEAN — For 91 years, Jewish residents in the Olean area worshiped, celebrated and mourned together at Temple B’Nai Israel on South Barry Street. > > At 3 p.m. Sunday, congregation members, led by lay leader **Dr. David Shulman, will conduct the last “deconsecration” service for the building,** followed by another service at a new location inside the former St. John’s School at 921 N. Union St. Extension. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/10 "2023-11-29T13:16:41Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > proscribed Early morning/fat fingers/typing on tablet/auto-correct, pick one. Prescribed of course. They had a last service that they called a deconsecration service, but there is no specific deconsecration procedure. Take out the Torahs and it is done as a synagogue. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/11 "2023-11-29T13:19:21Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Do you mean “proscribed” or “prescribed”? If the former, that might explain [this news report](https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/temple-b-nai-israel-to-conduct-last-service-in-synagogue-sunday/article_e2f6a755-fad7-5933-b41d-e8eb51bacda1.html) about a New York synagogue undergoing some sort of formal deconsecration procedure (emphasis mine): A congregation can certainly decide to hold a ceremony, or mark an occasion in some manner, but that does not mean it is in any way mandatory to do so. It’s the torah scrolls that make the place holy, not the building itself. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/12 "2023-11-29T13:29:14Z")
Our old temple became an appliance repair shop, and is now a private home. I think there was a ceremony as we moved out but other than removing the Torahs I’m not sure what else done. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/13 "2023-11-29T13:32:26Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Say what? There are plenty of Catholic churches, and even some cathedrals, that are not shaped like a cross. yes, I know that not all churches are built that way, But many are. And the church building itself is often divided into separate areas with names like the nave, the sanctuary, the altar, the chancel, the presbytery–each defined with its degree of sacredness. Synagogues have sacred objects in them, but the building itself is less sacred, if at all. For example, there are no areas which are restricted to the clergy, and off limits to the laymen, or areas where rituals must be performed, and nowhere else. from [the united methodist church](https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-where-do-church-terms-like-narthex-and-nave-come-from#:~:text=Some%20Western%20churches%20have%20a,worship%20space%20as%20the%20sanctuary) the sanctuary, where the clergy preside, from the nave, where the lay people worship from [wiki:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary#:~:text=In%20many%20Western%20Christian%20traditions,church%20tabernacle%20at%20other%20times) In many [Western Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianity) traditions including Catholic, [Lutheran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism), [Methodist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism), and Anglican churches, the area around the altar is called the sanctuary; it is also considered holy because of the belief in the physical presence of God in the [Eucharist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist), ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/14 "2023-11-29T13:50:30Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Synagogues have sacred objects in them, but the building itself is less sacred, if at all. It’s not just the synagogue that is treated differently . Unlike priests, rabbis have no specific ritual role that can’t be done without them like mass. Rabbis are teachers, leaders, and may hold a lot of sway over their congregants but ritual life doesn’t require one. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/15 "2023-11-29T13:51:42Z")
No. There is no prescribed ritual or anything else for that purpose. A synagogue may choose to hold an inauguration, of course, but it is certainly not required, and there is no prescribed ritual for such an event. Anyplace that a minyan\* of Jews gather can be used for regular prayer. Zev Steinhardt - Minyan = a quorum of ten adult Jewish men (in the Orthodox tradition) or adult men and women (in other traditions). ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/16 "2023-11-29T14:31:31Z")
Nice to see you, @zev_steinhardt. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/17 "2023-11-29T16:50:40Z")
As an aside: I used to live in a very Jewish neighborhood of Montreal. There were at least four synagogues within walking distance of my house. In the many decades since then, most of the Jews have moved away. So all those synagogue buildings are now used for something else. I’m not aware of any ceremonies that were held when they were sold. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/18 "2023-11-29T18:28:51Z")
Thank you, Susan! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/19 "2023-11-29T18:32:51Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I thought of this because the synagogues in my town consolidated, and I found out today that the main one is now in the process of transforming into a YMCA community center At one point there were YMCAs and YMHAs, with presumably some non-secular component to the group. (I think the 92nd Street Y in New York was a YMHA.) Now, all of the "Y"s seem to be entirely secular. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837/20 "2023-11-29T21:35:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > At one point there were YMCAs and YMHAs, with presumably some non-secular component to the group. Both YMHAs in Toronto rebranded as the Jewish Community Centre decades ago, even though they are multi-faith and open to all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-jewish-dopers-does-a-synagogue-have-to-be-subjected-to-any-ritual-before-it-can-be-used-for-something-else/993837.md?page=2)