From Europe to Australia: Which Way Do Jews Face in Prayer?

Wherever a Jew may be in the world, Jewish law teaches that prayer should be directed toward the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem. This principle has influenced the architecture of synagogues and the way Jews pray, both individually and as a community, across the globe.

The tradition of facing Jerusalem during prayer dates back thousands of years, with its foundations in the Tanakh and its practical requirements established in the Talmud and the Shulchan Aruch. Yet determining the correct direction is not always as straightforward as it might seem, particularly when praying thousands of miles away from Israel.

The Biblical Origins of Facing Jerusalem

The earliest biblical source for directing one's prayers toward Jerusalem appears in King Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the First Temple. Solomon describes various circumstances in which the Jewish people might find themselves, including exile and war, and explains how they should turn toward Hashem in prayer.

He declares: "And they pray to You toward their land, which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the House which I have built for Your name" (I Kings 8:48).

This tradition is also reflected in the Book of Daniel, which describes how Daniel continued praying toward Jerusalem while living in Babylon: "He had windows open in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem" (Daniel 6:11).

The Mishnah and Talmud establish a clear framework for the direction of prayer (Berachot 30a). A person standing outside the Land of Israel should direct their heart toward Israel. Someone within Israel should turn toward Jerusalem, while a person in Jerusalem should direct their prayers toward the Beit Hamikdash. Anyone standing within the Temple itself should direct their heart toward the Holy of Holies.

In this way, Jews throughout the world, regardless of their physical location, unite in directing their prayers toward one sacred place.

The Shulchan Aruch codifies this principle as Jewish law (Orach Chaim 94:1), instructing those outside Israel to face the Land of Israel while directing their hearts toward Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Holy of Holies. It concludes with the fundamental idea that all of Israel directs its heart toward one place.

Which Direction Should You Face When Praying?

The practical direction of prayer depends on where a person is located geographically.

In Europe and North America, Jews traditionally face east, often with a slight turn toward the southeast, depending on their location. This explains why the Aron Kodesh, the ark containing the Torah scrolls, is commonly positioned along the eastern wall of synagogues in these regions. The familiar expression Mizrach wall, meaning the eastern wall, originates from this custom.

In countries located east of Israel, including China, Japan, Australia, Iraq, and Iran, worshippers generally face west or northwest toward Jerusalem.

In countries south of Israel, such as South Africa, the general direction of prayer is north, while Jews in northern regions, including Scandinavia and northern Russia, traditionally face south.

However, these are general directions rather than universal compass bearings. The precise direction varies depending on the worshipper's location.

The Fascinating Question of Geography: Which Way Is Jerusalem?

Modern geographical knowledge has introduced an interesting halachic question: How should the direction of prayer be calculated when Jerusalem is thousands of miles away, particularly for Jews living in North America?

Two principal approaches are discussed. The first is based on the direction indicated by a conventional flat map. On such a map, a straight line drawn from New York to Jerusalem points southeast. This corresponds to the traditional practice of facing east or southeast in many American Jewish communities.

The second approach considers the spherical shape of the Earth. Because the Earth is round, the shortest route between two points on its surface follows an arc known as a great circle. When calculated this way, the shortest route from New York to Jerusalem begins in a northeasterly direction rather than southeast.

These differences have prompted considerable discussion among halachic authorities. Many Jewish communities have traditionally followed the general eastward or southeastward direction when praying in the United States. Other authorities, including the author of Pe'at HaShulchan and later halachic scholars, have emphasized the importance of calculating the direction according to the Earth's spherical geometry.

Many modern prayer-direction apps and digital compasses use great-circle calculations to determine the shortest geographical route to Jerusalem. The result is that two worshippers in the same city may follow different accepted approaches while sharing precisely the same intention: directing their prayers toward the holiest place in Judaism.

What If You Don't Know Which Direction to Face?

What happens when someone is unfamiliar with their surroundings, cannot determine where Jerusalem is located, or finds themselves in a place where facing the correct direction is impossible?

The Talmud and Shulchan Aruch provide a reassuring answer: "If a person does not know how to determine the directions, they should direct their heart toward their Father in Heaven."

In such circumstances, a person may pray while facing whichever direction is possible, concentrating instead on the awareness that their prayers are directed toward Hashem and the Holy of Holies. This principle emphasizes that although the physical direction of prayer carries halachic significance, sincere intention remains central to the act of prayer.

What If a Synagogue Faces the Wrong Direction?

Another practical question arises when someone enters a synagogue and discovers that the congregation is praying in a direction that does not appear to face Jerusalem. This might happen because of the synagogue's architectural layout, the orientation of the building, or other practical constraints.

In such circumstances, halachic guidance emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity with the congregation rather than visibly separating oneself by facing an entirely different direction.

The worshipper should generally stand in the same direction as the congregation while, where appropriate, turning their face slightly toward Jerusalem. Above all, they should direct their heart toward the Holy of Holies. This approach reflects the Jewish values of communal unity and avoiding unnecessary disagreement during prayer.

Ultimately, facing Jerusalem is about more than geography. It is an expression of the spiritual connection that unites Jews across continents, cultures, and generations. Whether someone is praying in Jerusalem, New York, London, or a remote corner of the world, every Jewish prayer is directed toward the same sacred center. The physical distances may be enormous, but the spiritual destination remains the same.