New Synagogue on Upper State

This weekend, a new synagogue opened inside Grace Lutheran Church at 3869 State Street, and the new community welcomed their Torah into the space with a ceremony. The procession, which started at the nearby Macy’s, was led by Rabbi Eliyahu Gevirtz, who walked under a wedding chuppah to bring the Torah into the new temple for the first time. This Torah, which was handwritten in Russia 70-90 years ago, is the centerpiece of Zimrat Yah, a shul that will focus on music and singing from the Sephardic tradition of Judaism. “What I find is that singing is one of the main ways into the experience of the divine,” said Gevirtz, who cofounded the synagogue. “To me this particular type of music feels like it is our indigenous music and is really moving to me and to others.” Zimrat Yah, which will remain inside Grace Lutheran Church for as long as the building stands, will begin with high holiday celebrations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the coming weeks and then offer regular Friday and Saturday services starting in October. See zimratyah.org.