Shtiebel is the Yiddish diminutive form for shtub, which means house. It commonly refers to a small, informal house of prayer. Thus, while a shul (which is actually related to the English word “school”) refers to a larger, more organized synagogue, the shtiebel is a heimish (homey) affair, where the pews may be secondhand and the kiddush reception is probably served on the same well-worn tables where prayer took place just moments before.
True to its name, a shtiebel may often be a converted house (or a storefront) that has not been entirely renovated. The typical urban American shteibels were built in the mid 20th century and occupy a single, gutted floor of a two-family home, with wood-paneled walls. A movable barrier or curtain divides between men and women. It is fairly typical (but not required) for such a shtiebel to have a men’s mikvah in the basement, creating a one-stop prayer experience for its patrons.
The plural of shtiebel is shtiebelach. In Israel, a complex with multiple prayer rooms, where one can find another prayer service beginning every few minutes, is referred to collectively as shtiebelach.
Shtiebels by Other Names: Kloyz
In some communities, a shtiebel may also be called a kloyz. And indeed, Boyaner Chassidim, for example, refer to their places of worship by that name. The term kloyz, however, carries with it an air of exclusivity, which is absent from the open-to-the-public, humble and welcoming shtiebel.
Beis Medrash
Beis midrash (often pronounced bismedrish in Yiddish or beit midrash in Modern Hebrew) is a Hebrew term that means “house of study.” Unlike the synagogue, where the primary activity is praying, the beis midrash is used mostly for Torah study, even though praying happens there as well. Since a shtiebel is often home to Torah classes, it may be known as a beis midrash.
Cheder Sheni / Chabadnitza
A large synagogue may often have a main sanctuary just used on Shabbat and holidays (or only in the summer when heating the large room is not an issue) and a smaller sanctuary for everyday prayers, classes, etc. In Russia, this was known as a cheder sheni (Hebrew for “second room”) or chabadnitza, since the Chabad chassidim who prayed for many hours on end preferred the quiet that the smaller room afforded them.
During the Soviet era, the chabdnitzas in the large synagogues in Moscow and Leningrad were the seat of the underground activities carried out by the brave Chabad chassidim who taught Torah and spread Jewish awareness and observance to their fellow Jews. This was in spite of the informers planted by the KGB, who invariably took note of all the comings and goings.
Thankfully, the KGB is no longer breathing down anyone’s backs when we enter our shtiebelach, and all we need to worry about is finding a prayerbook that’s not missing any pages and a nice comfortable seat at the table.
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