Ner Tamid (ever-burning light) – a light in a synagogue, above and in front of the aron hakodesh, which burns constantly as a symbol of God's presence

(Pronounced nuhr tah-meed)

To remember the meaning of Ner Tamid in Judaism, use the following mnemonic:

The nurse tampered with the lead (Ner Tamid) and the constant light showing the patient was still alive suddenly went out.

The ner tamid, also known as the eternal light, hangs above the aron hakodesh (the ark) in every synagogue. It is a symbol of God's eternal and imminent presence in communities and individual lives.

In the past, the ner tamid was an actual flame, but using light bulbs or LED lighting has now become more common and is perfectly acceptable.

NOTE: The aron hakodesh, in front of which the ner tamid hangs, is often referred to as the ark, and is where the Torah scroll is kept. The ark is usually made of wood, looks like a cupboard and often has a curtain or door. It is the most important place inside a synagogue.