The Jewish High Holidays, the holiest time of the Jewish Year, begin with Rosh Hashana (New Year) and conclude with Yom Kippur (Day of Repentance). Rabbi Steven Blane and Sim Shalom online synagogue celebrated awesome jazz inspired services in this year 5779 with participants live in New York at two (2) sold out services. Set in an iconic Greenwich Village club Rabbi Steven brought together dozens of live attendees and hundreds of others globally online to streamed services. Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, was created Continue reading →

Sim Shalom Online Synagogue will hold live High Holiday services at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village, New York featuring Rabbi Steve Blane and his quintet: Jack Glotman on Piano, Carol Sudhalter on Sax and Flute, Liz Taub on Fiddle, Kevin Hailey on Bass and Frank Levitano on Drums. We are thrilled to announce that Evan Kremin will be joining us again in 2018 (5779). Evan has blown shofar at the jazz inspired Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services for the past four (4) years. Continue reading →

On Monday, September 10th and Wednesday, September 19th Jews of all denominations searching for a vanguard place to celebrate the High Holidays will be offered a jazz service with vocals led by Rabbi Cantor Steven Blaneaccompanied by saxophone, piano, flute, drums, bass and fiddle. The participatory service will elate the spiritual uplift of new beginnings, welcoming the Jewish New Year with the raw emotion of jazz arranged from songs of Jewish liturgy. For those who will be in New York City, tickets are available for Continue reading →

On Friday night, March 30th Rabbi Steve Blane of Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, led a Passover seder to a sold out crowd at the Knickerbocker Bar and Grill in New York’s Greenwich Village. Dozens of wandering Jews enjoyed a typical Passover meal while also celebrating a joyful seder with Blane on the ukulele. Watch here. Passover is the season and celebration of the Hebrew people’s liberation from bondage in Egypt. Sim Shalom honors the Jewish love of freedom by providing unique services online for Continue reading →

Sim Shalom Online Synagogue and Rabbi Steve Blane held a virtual Tu B’Shevat seder in anticipation of the holiday that begins at sundown on Tuesday night, January 30th. And the tree planted by the Blane family in honor of Tu B’Shevat last year is thriving even in post hurricane Florida. Tu B’Shevat is a little known Jewish holiday whose ancient roots are taking hold in today’s world. Tu B’Shevat is a celebration of trees and by extension the environment. Trees have always held a special Continue reading →

On Saturday, November 4th Rabbi Steve Blane installed Rabbis Matthew Leibl and Anibal Mass at an installation ceremony at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Winnipeg Canada before a congregation of 500. Rabbi Alan Green, the Senior rabbi, is retiring and is implementing a seamless transition. Rabbis Leibl and Mass studied with Rabbi Blane at Jewish Spiritual Leaders’ Institute and were ordained in July 2017. Rabbi Blane notes, “The congregation and the two Rabbis are blessed to share this experience of innovation, rejuvenation and mutual respect and Continue reading →

Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, will offer the world-wide community the ability to participate in honoring a yahrzeit, pray for healing, or mourn the loss of a loved one with the collective energy of a global minyan by continuing its interactive and virtual Ma’ariv Service Monday through Thursday at 7:00 pm EST. For those mourning a loss or know someone that is ill Ma’ariv services offer a chance to pray for healing and memorializing. Offering the service online fosters participation in Judaic rituals that otherwise Continue reading →