Julie Russo explores secular and religious spiritual practices in Raleigh, and invites contributors to write for this column.

The Ark at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, photo by Julie Z. Russo

The most important feature in the synagogue is the Holy Ark which houses the Torah scrolls, the holiest objects in the Temple. The Ark represents the Ark of the Covenant described in the book of Exodus. Temple Beth Or's Ark was built in 1867 for Beth El synagogue in Detroit and was later used in two other synagogues before coming to Raleigh in 1978 to be placed in Temple Beth Or. The Ark rests on a raised platform called the Bimah. Above the Bimah and in front of the Ark is the Ner Tamid, the "Eternal Light," which burns day and night and is a physical symbol of G-d's eternal presence. The stained glass panel is one of the earliest surviving pieces of Jewish ceremonial architectural glass in the United States.