WELCOME TO THE NEW SYNAGOGUE
Twenty years after first founding The Little Synagogue in 1977, a synagogue for Spiritual Judaism, Rabbi Joseph H. Gelberman founded the New Synagogue, the first synagogue with no membership fees or dues…the first free synagogue in New York City. His vision was to welcome Jews of every denominations as well as non-Jews who were looking for a place to celebrate and wor
ship the Divine. Rabbi Roger Ross joined Rabbi Gelberman as his Associate Rabbi at the New Synagogue in 1995 after receiving Semicha from the Rabbinical Seminary International, and has served with him until his passing on Rosh Hashanah, 2010. Since the passing of Rabbi Gelberman, Rabbi Ross, along with Cantor Judy Steel, Rabbi Scott Matous and Cantor Jeannie Kwartler, has continued the traditions of the New Synagogue, in the spirit of “Never instead of…always in addition to” which welcomes all people of every faith who wish to experience a joyful and spiritual service dedicated to the Divine of each of our understandings. Rabbi Ross has continued the tradition of having the synagogue be free of membership fees and dues. In the Chassidic tradition of the first Shabbat of each month being a Yom Kippur Katan, “a little Yom Kippur”, the New Synagogue meets on the first Friday evening of each month as well as the High Holidays of each year. Currently, the New Synagogue is holding those services at Grace Methodist Church, 124 W. 104th Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) Services begin at 7:15pm. Whether you are seeking a synagogue for your first experience of Jewish worship or seeking a synagogue that offers a more joyful and loving experience filled with the energy which infuses Jewish worship, please know that you are always welcome. We invite you to come and experience Jewish worship with us.
