Jewish legalistic discourse surrounding both abstract and physical objects – such as sacrifices for the
Temple in Jerusalem, coinage, and nature – often describes consecration as dependent on the circumstance by which those objects are used. The term
"consecration" may be used to describe the neutral, unadulterated, innate state of a thing, where
"deconsecration" is a consequence of a particular action that renders that object unfit for certain ceremonial, religious, or moral uses. For instance,
silver or
coinage circulated under a previous occupying ruler of
Palestine, it can be considered deconsecrated for the sake of, i.e.,
Tzedakah. As common in almost all Talmudic discourse, there is dissenting opinion.
Synagogues Jewish legalistic tradition generally does not consider synagogues to be holy structures on their own, but rather holy through the congregation or minyan that uses it. Thus, there are no formal procedures for the consecration or deconsecration of a synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת [Beit haKnesset]). This also allows any space habitually used to support a
minyan (quorum of ten Jews above the age of
bar mitzvah) to be considered a synagogue, as long as it contains a
torah ark (Hebrew: ארון קודש [Aron Kodesh]), and
bimah or platform from which the Torah can be observed and read. There are provisions, however, concerning what can be done with the building that constituted a synagogue after it has been sold, when a synagogue
must be deconstructed, what purpose a building that is be converted into a synagogue may have had immediately prior, to whom a synagogue can be sold, and what can be done with the financial proceeds gained through the sale of a synagogue. For instance, a synagogue may be converted into a hall of learning (such as a
Yeshiva), but a hall of learning cannot be converted into a synagogue, as a hall of learning is considered holier than a synagogue. == Christianity ==