Sim Shalom Finds The Beef In Religious Responsibility And Joins Meatless Monday Campaign

Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, already considered the greenest of synagogues with no commuting required, joined the international Meatless Monday campaign, its latest calling to protect G-d ‘s creation. Tikkun Olam, to repair the world, is at the core of Sim Shalom’s tenets and its Meatless Monday commitment. The goal is to cultivate an understanding of Jewish environmental responsibility and foster participation. The Meatless Monday Campaign was launched in association with Sid Lerner and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 2003 as an Continue reading →

Singers Land Lifetime Role as Ordained Cantors with Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI ) Ordination

On January 16, Jewish Spiritual Leaders” Institute (JSLI ), the online Rabbinical and Cantorial School, celebrated religious and musical fulfillment with two newly ordained Cantors at an Ordination weekend celebration of firsts in Delray Beach, Florida. The two freshly ordained Cantors, Joanna P. Lind of Chicago, and Nina Fine of Florida, bring a breadth of experience, both religious and theatrical, to the Cantorate. Cantors are sacred singers that lead the Jewish community in music, spiritual prayer and ritual services as well as illuminate the beauty Continue reading →

A Bible Belt Congregant Finds His Way Home to Judaism With Sim Shalom Conversion

On December sixth,2016 the journey of Robert Hadley’s conversion to Judaism took on profound significance as he recited the Hebrew blessing and lit his first menorah candle wearing a yarmulke and a tallit which draped over his Seth Rogen look alike Chanukah sweater. Hadley, a Sim Shalomonline synagogue congregant, converted to Jewish Universalism and has enjoyed other Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Passover as a Jew by Choice. According to Hadley, “Choosing to convert to Judaism was a process that began after the birth Continue reading →

Live Jazz High Holiday CD Released From Sim Shalom

Sim Shalom’s new CD, fuses the raw emotion of jazz and the traditional liturgy of ancient Jewish High Holiday prayer and music. Sim Shalom, the world’s first purely virtual synagogue, brings its inventive programming to the High Holidays each year with jazzed up Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. During the High Holidays, members of the Jewish community reflect upon life and the year that has passed. They pray that the year ahead will bring blessings and peace. Jazz is thoughtful music, improvisation within a Continue reading →

Jewish Spiritual Leader’s Institute ordains 9th Class of Rabbis

The Jewish Spiritual Leader’s Institute (JSLI),the Online Rabbinical School of Sim Shalom, held its ordination ceremony on Saturday evening in Delray Beach, Florida. Ten new rabbis will now begin their respective missions and service as teachers and spiritual leaders- some advancing the tenets of Jewish Universalism. Each of the ten candidates were granted semicha by the Bet Din as part of the joyous occasion. The Hebrew meaning of semicha (certificate of ordination) is literally a “leaning of the hands.” Within the context of rabbinical ordination, Continue reading →

Sim Shalom Announces Daniela Taitel and Heidi Raker Have Joined Its Board of Directors

Sim Shalom announces that Daniela Taitel have joined its Board of Directors. Daniela Taitel, Deputy Director of Facilities and General Administration at a NYC cultural institution and Heidi Raker, founder of Raker Goldstein, a public relations agency, bring a wealth of development, communication and programming prowess to Sim Shalom’s growing organization. Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue that is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. According to Sim Shalom founder Rabbi Steven Blane, Daniela’s and Heidi’s passion and spiritual connection to Continue reading →

Mazal Tov Rabbi Barry Altmark- Accepted into Chaplaincy Program

JSLI Ordained Rabbi Barry Altmark has been accepted into a program that will certified him as a Chaplain with the Baptist Health System in Alabama. According to Rabbi Altmark, JSLI’s accreditation is deemed as acceptable as HUC, JTS and Aleph. Mazal Tov to our colleague!