Sim Shalom to blend Manhattan and online High Holiday services

Sim Shalom will mark the 5787 High Holidays with in-person services on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and a live online stream for participants around the world. The schedule underscores how online worship is now central to the congregation’s model after more than 15 years of digital Jewish community-building.

Why it matters: - Sim Shalom is using the High Holidays to show how a synagogue can serve both a local congregation and a global online audience at the same time. - The format reflects a broader shift in Jewish worship, where geography is no longer the only limit on participation.

What happened: - Sim Shalom will hold Rosh Hashanah services on Saturday, September 12 at 10:30 AM ET and Yom Kippur services on Monday, September 21 at 10:30 AM ET. - The in-person services will take place at Grace & St. Paul’s Church, 123 West 71st Street, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. - Both services will also be available live online. - Additional services will be available online as part of the holiday slate. - Rabbi Steven Blane, Sim Shalom’s founder, will lead the services.

The details: - Sim Shalom has spent more than 15 years building an online Jewish congregation focused on worship, learning and community. - The congregation has used technology to connect Jews, interfaith families and seekers across locations. - Rabbi Blane will lead with guitar and vocals. - James McQuade will play bass. - Lucy Galiher will play piano. - The services will combine traditional High Holiday liturgy with contemporary music and reflection. - Sim Shalom describes its approach as inclusive and accessible. - The congregation offers weekly Shabbat services, holiday worship, Jewish education and lifecycle experiences.

Between the lines: - The live-and-online model lets Sim Shalom keep a physical gathering while preserving the reach that made the congregation distinctive. - Rabbi Blane framed the moment as a chance to unite people in New York with participants across the country and abroad. - The model also signals that online worship is no longer a backup plan for Sim Shalom. It is part of the core identity.

What's next: - Sim Shalom will move through the High Holiday season with both in-person and digital participation options. - The congregation is directing people to its website for more information. - Sim Shalom’s social channels include Facebook and YouTube.

The bottom line: - Sim Shalom is presenting the 5787 High Holidays as proof that Jewish worship can be rooted in Manhattan and still reach a worldwide community at the same time.