how to say “to go to shul (synagogue)” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-1.m4a” /]לָלֶכֶת לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת, לְהִתְפַּלֵּל
The literal meaning of to go to synagogue (or shul, as many Jews say) in Hebrew is ללכת לבית הכנסת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-2.m4a” /].
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-3.m4a” /]אנחנו הולכים לבית הכנסת בעוד שעה.
We’re going to shul in an hour.
בית הכנסת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-4.m4a” /] means the synagogue, while בית כנסת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-5.m4a” /] means just synagogue, literally, house of gathering.
Then there’s going to shul in the sense of belonging to a particular synagogue. In this case, the Hebrew is להתפלל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-6.m4a” /] – literally, to pray.
So that if you might ask someone:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ללכת-לבית-הכנסת-7.m4a” /]איפה את מתפללת בראש השנה?
Where are you (a female) going to shul (praying) on Rosh Hashanah?
להתפלל is a reflexive-intensive התפעל verb.