Terms for Synagogue
Question
Could I check something with you please . I would like to check how to write the following terms in relation to the synagogue. Could you please confirm what would be the correct spelling as I have seen it written in different ways. I would like to ensure we should have the correct version on our takeaway leaflet, Would the terminology be.. Beit Haknesset or beit ha -knesset or beit ha knesset Similarly, Beit Hatefillah or beit-ha-tefillah or beit ha tefillah Also, would this be the same for beit ha midrash? With kindest regards, Heather
Answers
Personally, I think that Beit Haknesset and Beit Hatefillah are correct. In Hebrew the letter ‘heh’ at the beginning of a word is the definitive article, and belongs to the word it is attached to. That is why I feel that Beit ha Knesset or Beit ha Tefillah would be grammatically incorrect. (Likewise, Beit Hamidrash is the correct spelling.)
I hope you find this reply to be helpful.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team