West Side Institutional Synagogue - Saying Shema in front of every Shul in the world.

Join us as we explore and say Shema in different, unique Shuls around the world. Next stop: West Side Institutional Synagogue or WSIS in the heart of Manhattan since 1917 WSIS is more than a synagogue it’s a living symbol of Jewish unity, vision, and grit. Today, two congregations Ashkenazi and Sephardic daven under one roof, each with its own style, bound by shared purpose. All the sanctuary furniture was shipped from Ukraine in an act of courage and faith, the container was sent out just two days after the harbor was bombed. Founded by Rabbi Herbert Goldstein, WSIS was the first Modern Orthodox synagogue in America, pioneering English-language sermons, bringing together Holocaust survivors, Hill staffers, and generations of committed Jews. Believe it or not, the building was originally a church. It was kashered in the 1930s. Out with the organ, in with the Aron Kodesh. This is more than history. It’s a story still being written every day, in the heart of NYC.