Which term refers to the focal point of the service in a synagogue or temple?

• A. Avelim
• B. Daven
• C. Ark
• D. Niftar

Answer: (C)

In a synagogue, the focus of the service is the Ark, or Aron Kodesh, the cabinet on the sanctuary wall that houses the Torah scrolls. The prayers and Torah readings are directed toward this point, and much of the ritual centers around the Ark’s presence—torah scrolls are taken from it for readings, and congregants face toward it during worship. The Ark is the symbolic and physical center of the sanctuary, reflecting that the Torah is the heart of Jewish worship.

Avelim are mourners, people who are in mourning. Daven means to pray, which is the act of worship itself, not the focal point. Niftar refers to the deceased.