Rabbi Blane and Bet Din Oversee Conversion

Two new Jews by Choice joined the Jewish community on February 3rd at a conversion ceremony overseen by Sim Shalom’s Rabbi Steve Blane and an online Bet Din. Online conversion is a controversial topic in that some Jews tend to disparage the virtual process. However, even some mainstream denominations are now at times providing virtual conversions. Whatever the reason people seek conversion with Sim Shalom they all have a sincere desire to become Jewish. Rabbi Steve Blane of online synagogue Sim Shalom, was approached by Continue reading →

Sim Shalom Online Synagogue Broadcasts from a Little Blue Shed

Rabbi Steve Blane founded Sim Shalom as an option for those unaffiliated or disenfranchised Jews. The innovator developed Sim Shalom as a virtual synagogue. There is no physical building. Services are not videoed from a birds eye view of a congregation worshipping. Services are designed to be interactive and streamed directly to congregants. Sim Shalom has a vibrant community from around the world who watch daily. Not only can the community attend services in their PJs viewing from the comfort of their home, RV or Continue reading →

Sim Shalom High Holiday Services a Big Hit for a Sold Out Crowd

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 →

Shofar Blower, Evan Kremin Joins Rabbi Steve Blane and Sim Shalom at the Bitter End

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 →

Shofar and Saxaphone Provide Awesome Sounds for the High Holidays 5779

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 →

Sim Shalom Online Synagogue and Rabbi Steve Blane Celebrate Passover Freedom

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 →

A Tree Grows in Florida as Sim Shalom Online Synagogue Plants the Seeds of Wisdom

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 →

Sim Shalom Broadcasts “Live from Winnipeg” at Installation of Two Newly Ordained JSLI Rabbis

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 →

What is Jewish Universalism and Why Does it Matter?

Rabbi Blane writes: To answer those questions, I need to revisit a bit of personal history. “When I first conceived of Jewish Universalism, it was during a transitional period when I declined my synagogue’s offer of a contract renewal in January, and I had to remain in my position until July. For Rabbis and Cantors, those months are a time of soul searching- and job searching. We tend to just “walk through the motions” and show up and perform our duties but often devoid of Continue reading →

Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute Ordains 6 New Rabbis Trained Untraditionally Online.,

JSLI – Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute, the Online Rabbinical and Cantorial School of Sim Shalom, celebrated freedom in diversity and flexibility on July 4th weekend at the 13th Class Ordination weekend. The six (6) new Rabbis, from a range of backgrounds, four (4) from the United States and two (2) from Canada shared a classroom on the internet and a passion for Jewish Religious studies. They completed traditional Rabbinic studies with a focus on contemporary Jewish issues and problems that a 21st Century Jew faces. Continue reading →