When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem's Second Temple in 70 CE, Jewish communities faced an unprecedented crisis: how to maintain their ancient traditions without their central place of worship. The puzzling architectural features of ancient synagogues, long attributed to pagan temple influence, reveal a different story. Through systematic comparison of archaeological evidence from excavated synagogues in Palestine and the diaspora with Mishnaic and Talmudic sources, five key unexplained features emerge: the absence of permanent Torah arks in early synagogues, universal basilica-style architecture with specific seating arrangements, prevalent connecting steps between sections, required vestibules and forecourts, and frequent locations outside town limits. Detailed examination of findings from sites including Sardis, Ostia, Capernaum, and Beth Alpha, correlated with rabbinic literature describing Temple procedures, demonstrates that each puzzling feature corresponds to specific Temple practices and architectural elements. Rather than developing as secular assembly halls that gradually acquired religious functions, synagogues appear to have originated as religious institutions deliberately designed to preserve Temple worship traditions. This conscious architectural preservation of Temple elements suggests a coordinated effort across the diaspora to maintain ritual continuity in the face of catastrophic loss.