Gospel Shabbat is first of its kind for BRJC

On Friday, March 13, the Bay Ridge Jewish Center (BRJC) hosted its first ever Gospel Shabbat.

Nearly 200 people from several different houses of worship appeared at the community center to join in welcoming the Shabbat.

The BRJC holds its Shabbat services every Friday evening, and hosts a special musical service once a month — but this service was the first of its kind.

The evening featured the first interdenominational service hosted by the BRJC. Not only did people of the Jewish faith arrive that evening, but Christians and Muslims were in attendance as well.

“It was a coming together of different faith groups and it was a wonderful opportunity to meet each other,” said Ruth Masyr of the BRJC.

The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir, lead by Pastor Frank Hayes, filled the center with songs that “created a unifying feeling that the place we were in would become a sanctuary for everybody,” recalled Masyr.

“While it was a Jewish prayer service, it was enhanced by the attendance of a broad section of people of different faiths and by the gospel choir. It was so successful that we plan on doing it again soon,” concluded Masyr.