The Synagogue

...The Holy One, Blessed be He, says: Anyone who engages in Torah study and in acts of kindness, and prays with the congregation, I ascribe to him credit as if he redeemed Me and My children from among the nations of the world.

...For surely how could it be...The grammar expresses confusion as if to say, "Is it true that God might settle with humans on this earth? This couldn't be believed, for You who are blessed and elevated above all - there is no place that can contain You, for You are the place of the world and the world is not a place for You. If so, my building up this house for You is just by way of parable, that Your will and glory will be found in this house to listen to the prayer that will be prayed in this place." And even though God's will is in all places for one who cried out to Him with a whole heart to listen to his prayer, Shlomo sought from God that this place might be chosen to assist the person praying in his prayer, as if this house were an angelic advocate and the prayer of all who prayed in this house would be closer than if one prayed elsewhere.

(8) One might have thought that a person can pray [Shemoneh Esreh] all day long. [However] it already explained in Daniel, “… and three times a day he prayed on his knees …” (Daniel 6:11) One might have thought that [a person] can pray facing any direction. [However] the verse teaches us, “… where in the attic he had windows facing Yerushalayim …” (ibid.) One might have thought that [Daniel] only began to pray after he was exiled. [However] the verse teaches us, “… just as he had always done before then.” (ibid.)

“Yet I have been to them as a little sanctuary [in the countries where they have come]” (Ezekiel 11:16). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: This is referring to the synagogues and study halls in Babylonia. And Rabbi Elazar said: This is referring to the house of our master, [i.e., Rav,] in Babylonia...Rava expounded: What is the meaning of the verse: “God, You have been our dwelling place [in all generations]” (Psalms 90:1)? This is the synagogues and study halls. Abaye said: At first, I used to study at home and pray in the synagogue. Once I listened to that which David says: “Lord, I love the habitation of Your house” (Psalms 26:8), I would study Torah in the synagogue...

(5) "Shools," that is, schools, we call our houses of worship in the Ashkenazi language, and that is what they should be, schools for the grown-up, for those who have long since exchanged the tasks of the schoolmaster for the problems of life.