For some members of the Jewish community, if it’s not in a synagogue, then it’s simply not a worship service. But this year, Congregation Sim Shalom will hold its High Holiday Services at a world famous jazz club in New York City.
In these enlightened times, it’s appropriate to understand that each person experiences prayer in their own way. Some feel closest to prayer in nature, others in the expression of music. Jazz music is closely related to traditional Jewish music in its improvisational style.
The liberal Jewish community often finds it difficult to connect with traditional Jewish worship. Weekly Services in general and High Holiday services in particular often tend to feel sullen and worse, boring. Also the High Holiday theme of repentance also weighs heavily on the minds of attendees.