Mizrah

Direction of prayer in Judaism Mizrah papercut, Eastern Europe, 19th century (from Pidkamin, Ukraine) Mizrah (also spelled Mizrach, Mizrakh) (Hebrew: מִזְרָח, romanized: mīzrāḥ) is the "east" and the direction that Jews in the Diaspora west of Israel face during prayer. Practically speaking, Jews face the city of Jerusalem when praying, and those north, east, or south of Jerusalem face south, west, and north respectively. In European and Mediterranean communities west of the Holy Land, mizrah also refers to the wall of the synagogue that faces east, where seats are reserved for the rabbi and other dignitaries. In addition, mizrah refers to an ornamental wall plaque used to indicate the direction of prayer in Jewish homes. Jewish law Framed mizrach with the word מזרח on the wall (Jan Voerman, De treurdagen 'the sorrowful days', c. 1884) The Talmud states that a Jew praying in the Diaspora shall direct themself toward the Land of Israel; in Israel, toward Jerusalem; in Jerusalem, toward the Temple; and in the Temple, toward the Holy of Holies. The same rule is found in the Mishnah but prescribed for individual prayers rather than congregational ones (i.e., in a synagog