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April 14, 2026
April 14, 2026
Shabbat
Shabbat
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, April 17, 7:00pm
CHC Chapel
IN-PERSON and Virtual
Join Rabbi Emily and Shira in a meaningful Friday night service to welcome Shabbat.
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Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, April 11, 10:00am
CHC Chapel
IN-PERSON and Virtual
Come celebrate Shabbat with Rabbis Emily and Steven!
This Week
This Week
Nightly through May 20, 2026
8:00pm-8:30pm
It's time to count the Omer! Every night for 49 days, we will travel through the
Kabbalistic Tree of Life to come into alignment with ourselves.
Come when you can - every night or any night!
We're always happy to see you!
We will not be meeting on Friday nights because we will be counting during Shabbat services.
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Spiritual Connection Circle
Will resume after Counting the Omer is completed.
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Service Leadership Workshop with Rabbi Emily
Thursday, April 16, 6:00pm
Learn how to think about our prayers more deeply. Strengthen your leadership skills. All are welcome!
The prayer leadership group leads services on the first Friday of every month!
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The Kol HaLev Story Circle - Creating Connection Through Storytelling
Saturday, April 18, after Shabbat services
Stories are at the heart of Jewish life — from Torah and folklore to the personal journeys that shape us and our community today.
The Kol HaLev Story Circle is a monthly gathering that takes place on Rosh Chodesh, which is the beginning of a new month in the Hebrew calendar.
Members and guests share meaningful stories from their own life experiences that are inspired by a theme that relates to the particular month.
This gathering will occur immediately after Shabbat services, Kiddush, and potluck lunch.
Expect a lot of connection, laughter, reflection, and community! Come to listen or come to share.
No prior notice necessary – just come ready with a 3-5 minute story. All are welcome!
The first Kol HaLev Story Circle will be Saturday, April 18. Here is the monthly theme and prompts:
The month of Iyar—Healing and Counting
Theme: Slow change/the counting of the omer
Core question: How do I measure growth I can’t see?
Story Prompts: *Recovery - physical, emotional, spiritual
*a time healing came slowly
*what patience has taught you
Core value: Encourages compassion for self and others
Join us to hear our stories at Kol HaLev — Many voices shared from the heart!
For more information, please contact Laurie.
Save the Dates!
Save the Dates!
New Members’ Shabbat
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00am
At this special Shabbat morning service, we will honor new members of KHL with a group aliyah.
More information coming soon!
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Prayer Group with Kol HaLev and Church of the Holy Comforter
Monday, May 4, 2026, 6:30pm
CHC Chapel
All are welcome to join Rabbi Emily and Rev. Anne in a safe space for prayer. Everyone is welcome to leave a prayer on a bulletin board at CHC even if you can't make it. We will gather all the cards and pray together. Prayers can be personal and/or global.
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Witnessing War, Choosing Responsibility:
Ukraine, World Jewish Relief, and All of Us
Shabbat Morning, Saturday, May 9, 2026
After traveling to Kyiv amid ongoing conflict, David Weisberg, the Executive Director of World Jewish Relief USA, brings back vivid stories of resilience, hardship, and hope. He will share what he saw on the ground and how World Jewish Relief partners with local organizations to support vulnerable people — Jews and non-Jews alike — rebuilding their lives in the midst of crisis, reflecting what it means to translate Jewish values into action in a fractured world.
Click here to read David's full biography.
KHL News
KHL News
I’d like to recognize all the members of the Friday night service lay leadership group. We continue to explore ways to make our monthly service more meaningful, and have included stories, poems, kavanahs, Torah and Haftarah commentaries, and most importantly, music! A big shout out to Robby Kurrus for joining us so beautifully on guitar and for giving everyone their own music binder! With the recent additions of Susan Gewirth and Laurie Rosenberg as well, complementing the energies of Helene Miller, Beth Bugnaski and Marcie Weinstein, our group is really focused on personal growth and the opportunity to engage the congregation. Thank you to Rabbi Emily for her guidance and encouragement!
-Marcie Weinstein
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The congregational seder was a wonderful success. I want to thank everyone who contributed food, helped set up and especially the community effort to clean up afterward. Thanks to Rabbi Emily for the beautiful service, Jennifer and her fellow story tellers for their dramatic performances and Wesley for his creative way to find the afikomen. It really showed the strength of our community and I can't wait celebrate with everyone next year.
"The twig is strong but the bundle is stronger"
-Judy Gerb Co-President
Are there any KHL Members you think should be recognized?
For their efforts with the KHL community or otherwise? Please email the KHL office!
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Great News for KHL!
The chapel is now fully functional for wifi. Our days of poor reception should be behind us.
Also, we have ordered a voice amplifier that should benefit both the virtual and in person experience.
Any feedback about how we can further enhance our services and events, please contact Alan or Judy.
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Learning about Green Burial
Many of us at Kol HaLev are committed to preserving the Earth for future generations. We may recycle, compost, grow native plants, advocate for clean energy and the preservation of farmland, parks, and public lands, and contribute to environmental organizations. But can we also die, as we are living, in an environmentally responsible way?
Now Serenity Ridge, Maryland’s first 100% natural burial cemetery, offers us that option. In line with traditional Jewish practice, there is no enbalming, no industrial process, no release of pollutants, no liner or vault. Bodily remains are returned to the Earth in a beautiful natural setting, with minimal impact on the environment.
Bonnie Sorak, executive director of Serenity Ridge, will be making an online presentation about the cemetery and natural burial for those who are interested in learning more. A date has not been chosen yet.
To sign up, contact Judy Gerb at judithgerb@gmail.com.
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Meet with Rabbi Emily
If you'd like some time alone with the Rabbi, make an appointment here.
She is glad to meet with you whenever you need her!
Community News
Community News
Kolot HaLev 18th Anniversary Gala
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2:00pm
The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase, MD
Cantor George's choir has issued an invitation to their 18th Anniversary Celebration.
Click here to register for a time of music, connection, and celebration of the voices that make KHL so unique.
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Food Drive
Due to increasing food insecurity, we are collecting non-perishable foods for donation. When you come to services,
please consider making it your practice to bring donations, and we will bring it to a Maryland food bank location.
Click here for a list of items that are needed most.
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Container Drive
One of our members, Jodean Marks, is contributing food to an outdoor fridge in the B'more Community Fridge Network and needs empty containers in which to put food (e.g., containers for guacamole, hoummos, or potato salad; microwaveable takeout containers, single-serve beverage containers). Please bring empty, rinsed containers to KHL.
The Chesed Network provides an opportunity to show kindness and compassion to those
Kol HaLev members in need of support by offering caring, connection, and help.
KHL recognizes Laurie Rosenberg for her work on the chesed committee. She truly cares for all of us, and keeps everyone informed of the community’s needs. Please email her if you would like to join in supporting our members in more concrete ways.
If you would like to join her special chesed mailing list, please contact Laurie or Shira.
Communication Information
Communication Information
Keep in Touch and Stay Informed!
We have adopted text messages to provide important information about KHL and KHL events.
Add 410.346.9989 to your contact list so that you will know the text is from KHL.
You can opt out of our sms messages by replying STOP. You can also “unsubscribe” by logging into the member portal,
hovering over “My Account,” choosing “My Subscriptions,” click edit, uncheck the sms subscription, click save.
We are also using Instagram and Facebook for publicizing KHL, so we encourage people to subscribe!
For more about Kol HaLev, our people, services, programs, and events,
check out the Kol HaLev website at www.kolhalevmd.org!
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Mitzvah Cards
HONORING FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH MITZVAH CARDS
Now you can use Kol HaLev’s beautiful Mitzvah cards to celebrate a friend or family member’s joyous occasion or to offer condolences on the loss of a loved one.
Just give a donation of $18 (or more) to Kol HaLev
through our website, and notify Linda Barton.
She will send out a Mitzvah card on your behalf.
Mitzvah cards can also be bought for $36 per pack of 10 at
Kol HaLev events that do not fall on a Shabbat or Yom Tov.
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Mi Shebeirach List
In the Mi Shebeirach prayer for healing, we ask for Refuah Shlema (the renewal of body and the renewal of spirit) for ourselves and for our loved ones. We speak each name aloud during this part of our Shabbat service, and then together we sing this prayer. All names to be included on the Mi Shebeirach list need to be submitted to the KHL office no later than Wednesday, to be included in that weekend's Shabbat services. Each name submitted will continue to be included on the Mi Shebeirach list for one month.
If anyone needs to remain on the list longer than a month, their name can be resubmitted to the KHL Office. When submitting your (or your loved one's) name, please include the email address if you or they would like to be contacted by our KHL Chesed group to receive additional support. If you have any questions, please contact Shira.
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Contributing to the Newsletter
The deadline for all newsletter submissions is Sunday at noon and
must have prior approval from Rabbi Emily. Thank you for your cooperation.
The weekly KHL newsletter goes out on Tuesdays. If you’d like to put an item in the newsletter, please clear it with Rabbi Emily and Alan Silver by noon on the previous Sunday. Suitable items include KHL activities, some CHC activities, and events of particular interest in the larger Jewish community. Please provide a complete paragraph (or several paragraphs) with all relevant information.
As a rule, the KHL newsletter does not reprint content from other sources, whether print or digital. A summary and a link to the content may be provided instead. If you have material that you think is vitally important to reprint in the KHL newsletter, please provide proof of permission from the author(s) and publisher. The relevant information on copyright law is available here.
Rabbi Emily Stern: 516-835-9995, rabbi@kolhalevmd.org
Co-President Alan Silver: 443-996-3445, president@kolhalevmd.org
Co-President Judy Gerb: judithgerb@gmail.com
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