Romemu isn't your traditional congregation. All are welcome for Shabbat services, regardless of your age, level of religiousness, race, or ethnicity. In fact, I even met curious non-Jews here at the Shake It Off event. The only reason you should stay away is if you're offended by microphones, a band, female prayer leaders, a live stream, or a mixed-sex audience. But if you've felt alienated by other synagogues for whatever the reason (sexual orientation, skin color, ethnicity, atheism), then Romemu is what you've been searching for.
They're based out of an UWS church, for reasons having to do with both efficiency and unity. So prepare to see images of angels during prayers. The group was mainly made up of females under thirty and male baby boomers. Most striking to me was meeting people who were all over the denominational spectrum. The leader (David Ingber?) is quite soulful in his sermon, and I'll admit he got a bit too preachy for me (touching on parsha to gun control to kashrut to Hebrew origins, whoa buddy), but his passion for creating community and connection is clear.
If you go to dinner on their third floor for events, you'll notice a less traditional ambiance than other Jewish social scenes. With its same-sex bathroom, chill area on the rug, and passing around challah for interactive community discussion, Romemu has more of a "kumbaya" feel. We were one step away from sitting in a circle and holding hands. It's very sweet! They're working to not only bring more awareness to Jewish traditions, culture, and identity, but also they're being engaging and innovative about it. It may be a bit new-agey for you. But you won't know until you try, and I believe it's worth a try if you're looking for services that's at the very least more open-minded than most. read more
