The New Shul
We are a progressive synagogue in Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan (downtown New York).SERVICES & EVENTS
272 W 10th St
New York City
(unless otherwise noted)
OFFICE
505 8th Ave
Suite 1212
New York, NY 10018
212-284-6773 (phone)
212-284-6806 (fax) info@newshul.org
OBSERVANCE
Our style of religious observance is eclectic and defies easy categorization. We are an independent Jewish community that is progressive in our approach to traditional worship and wisdom.
Some Friday evenings, you'll find us welcoming in Shabbat at a pub in the Village, other times we'll be gathering on the High Line, or meditating on the beach. Our observances are done in search of greater connection—to our selves, to our community, and to our God.
We know no ONE way to accomplish this.
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Services
Our services are constantly in flux—removing ancient prayers that no longer speak to us, only to return to them later with a fresh interpretation. This struggle reflects who we are and the unfolding nature of our existence.
We believe, fundamentally, in a Judaism rooted in joy, celebration and conversation. Our gatherings reflect this sensibility. Participatory music, as well as participatory dialogue, play key roles in the life of The New Shul.
Although we do provide activities for younger children—so that adults can sometimes engage in more serious reflection and prayer—we often strive for events that are intergenerational in nature and feel. And we are as much in favor of excavating old, still-meaningful rituals as in creating new and innovative ones.
One of our defining characteristics is our "come as you are" attitude. This can be expressed in dress, in attitude, or in belief. At The New Shul, everyone is always welcome.
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Life-cycle Events
The New Shul offers the full range of Jewish life-cycle events for its members—weddings, baby namings, funerals, conversions, minyans for those sitting shiva.
Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah program, individualized to the needs, interests and abilities of each student, encourages our children to see this rite of passage as a beginning, rather than an end, to their lives as members of our community. Not every Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony at The New Shul is identical, and not every experience preparing for it is the same. But each student is forced to grapple with Torah—what it says, what it means, and how it can be relevant to those coming of age in the 21st century.