Jewish religious building in the Russian Empire: problems of terminology

The article examines the practice of synagogue architecture through the lens of I. Hoffman's framework. Special attention is paid to the problem of avoiding the use of the terms «synagogue» and «prayer school» adopted in legislation in correspondence with communities. The article is divided into three semantic blocks, the first one examines in detail the mechanism for obtaining permission for temporary prayer halls and permanent religious buildings. The second is devoted to the analysis of terms used in the legislation for Jews of the line and outside it. In the third, with the help of frame analysis, bureaucratic language is analyzed as a ceremonial procedure requiring compliance with the rules of correspondence by both sides. It is concluded that outside of correspondence, the rule of avoiding terms did not work. The article is based on historical sources related to the Jewish community in the Volga Region.