Patheos Watermark


Rituals and Worship

Sacred Time


Sacred Space

The vast majority of Conservative synagogues today are large, architecturally modernist suburban structures. Key innovations in Conservative synagogue design are the absence of an elevated section, or gallery for women, and the replacement of the traditional central bima (reader's stand) with an altar from which rabbis and cantors officiate.

Rites and Ceremonies

Conservative Jews continue to uphold most of the central rites of rabbinic Judaism, although the clergy generally play a central role with the congregation often reduced to the vicarious role of spectators in many rituals that require knowledge of Hebrew and rabbinic texts.

Worship and Devotion in Daily Life



In addition to the universal Jewish symbols, such as the Star of David and Lion of Judah, a symbol of the burning bush, with the Hebrew inscription "and the bush was not consumed," is a distinctive emblem of the Conservative movement.