bemas

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  13. podiums (platforms)
  14. bemas
Scope note
Refers to the apse or chancel of a basilica, usually in the context of ancient or Early Christian basilicas or meeting places, synagogues, or Eastern Orthodox churches. In modern times it most commonly refers to an elevated platform in a synagogue on which the Torah reading stand is placed; in the Ashkenazi (German) ritual, the Torah and Haftarah (a reading from the prophets) are read on the Sabbath and festivals. In the Sephardic (Spanish) rite, the entire service is conducted from the platform. At an earlier date, when the bimah was positioned in the center of the synagogue (as it still is in Sephardic and many Orthodox Ashkenazi synagogues), the attention of the congregation was divided between it and the Ark of the Law.
bemas
Accepted term: 02-Dec-2024