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 →

Sim Shalom Maariv Healing Services Uninterrupted All Summer Like Life and Loss

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 →

Nashville Rabbi Brings Country Warmth to Global Online Sim Shalom Ma’ariv Summer Services

UJUC Rabbi, Nancy Tunick, will affirm her spiritual voice to bring the world-wide community a little closer in joyous song, prayers for healing, in honoring a Yahrzeit or mourn the loss of a loved one, on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm EST. Just a click away join her and other Sim Shalom Rabbis for summer Ma’ariv services. As one of four Sim Shalom Rabbis offering Ma ‘ariv week night services, Rabbi Nancy’s cantorial sound provides a joyful vehicle to connect congregants in beautiful Judaic rituals while Continue reading →

A Rabbi of Color Builds Bridges with Global Summer Ma’ariv Service

As a scientist, educator, and one of seven children raised in a close African American Jewish family in upstate New York, Rabbi Deborah fulfills her childhood dream to become a spiritual leader, and shepherds summer Ma’ariv Monday services for Sim Shalom the online synagogue, to refresh spirituality each week. Rabbi Deborah is one of six Sim Shalom Rabbis that offer Ma ‘ariv week night services Monday – Thursday at 7:00pm EST throughout the summer. Shabbat services are offered every Friday at 7:00pm EST and some Continue reading →

At Shavuot Jews by Choice Update 3,000 Years of Tradition with Sim Shalom Online Conversion

On May 30th, several Sim Shalom Jews by Choice will celebrate Shavuot as the “newest” members of the tribe. Their conversion takes on special meaning for the Shavuot holiday which commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt Sinai and rebirth. Drawn to Judaism for a variety of reasons the new faithful worked with Sim Shalom virtual Synagogue online conversion to fulfill their spiritual quest. Like Ruth, the Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot, they too chose to become a Jew, albeit their journey Continue reading →