Embedded Files
March 17, 2026
March 17, 2026
Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat Unplugged
Friday, March 20, 7:00pm
CHC Chapel IN-PERSON and Virtual
Cantor George is in town! You know what that means - Shabbat Unplugged!
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Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, March 21, 10:00am
CHC Chapel IN-PERSON and Virtual
Cantorial Soloist Mara Yaffee will join Rabbi Emily in prayer and song!
Also, Reb Steven and Linda Silvern are coming back from their trip!
Join us in a joy-filled, musical service.
Please remember that the chapel is a fragrance free building.
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Spring Assembly
Saturday, March 21, 2026, after morning services
After Services, we are invited to Join the Daughters of the King in their special Spring Celebration!
Stay and break bread in our ecumenical community.
For more information, click for pdfs (Invitation to KHL, Spring Assembly).
This Week
This Week
Spiritual Connection Circle
Wednesday, March 18, 7:30pm
A chance to reflect and connect with friends in a sacred space. Need some more support?
Want closer connections with your community? Please join us in a compassionate environment for sharing and listening.
All are welcome!
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Service Leadership Workshop with Rabbi Emily
Thursday, March 19, 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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Jews United for Justice Social Justice Seder for Passover
Sunday, March 22, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Join JUFJ for “Until All Of Us Are Free,” two simultaneous seders about democracy in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC.
Kol HaLev is one of the sponsors! See the JUFJ website for more information.
Passover
Passover
Passover Prep
Dear Kol HaLev Community,
As we approach Passover, one of the beautiful rituals that helps us prepare our homes and hearts for the holiday is the selling of our chametz (leavened products that we remove from our homes during the festival.) Jewish tradition recognizes that it is not always practical to completely dispose of all chametz we own. Instead, we transfer ownership of that chametz to someone outside the Jewish community for the duration of Passover.
This year, we are grateful to Anne Nicholson, the Rector of the Church of the Holy Comforter, for serving in this role for our community!
If you would like to participate, you may authorize me to include your chametz in the community sale. Before Passover begins, please place any chametz you are keeping in a sealed cabinet, closet, or box and set it aside. Through the traditional authorization process, I will sell that chametz to Anne for the duration of the holiday. After Passover ends, the chametz will be available to you again.
Participating in this ritual can be a meaningful way to enter the spiritual work of the season—clearing space in our homes and hearts.
If you would like me to include your chametz in the sale, please let me know by March 31st, by filling out this authorization form!
Wishing you a meaningful preparation for Passover.
Blessings,
Rabbi Emily
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Second Night Community Passover Seder
Join us for a joyful Second Night Passover Seder filled with storytelling, singing, and the shared spirit of freedom!
Together we will retell the ancient story of the Exodus, raise our voices in beloved Passover songs, and
create a warm, participatory evening in the Parish hall.
We are looking for volunteers to help make the evening possible. If you’re able to help out, please contact Judy.
Suggested donation: $18.* to help cover Kol HaLev's costs.
*No one will be turned away for inability to pay.
Save the Dates!
Save the Dates!
Art With A Heart - Kol HaLev’s Sunday School for All Ages!
'The Freedom to be Free'
Sunday, April 5, 2026, 10:00am-12:00pm
AWAH, 3000 Falls Rd. Mill No 1. Baltimore, MD 21211
AWAH, 3000 Falls Rd. Mill No 1. Baltimore, MD 21211
Art With a Heart will supply KHL with teachers and materials!
Payment of $18 per session at the door or online.
Seasonal refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to Laurie or click here to register.
Prayer Group with Kol HaLev and Church of the Holy Comforter
Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00pm
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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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 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!
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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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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
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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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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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
Labors of Love
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 5:30pm
The Gordon Center for Performing Arts
The Baltimore premiere of Labors of Love is just two weeks away, and we’re thrilled to be receiving great local press from the Baltimore Jewish Times.
We would be honored to have your congregation in the audience for this special screening and talkback.
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LGBTQ Seder
Sunday, March 29, 2026, 11:00am-1:00pm
Bolton Street Synagogue
Join the Baltimore LGBTQ+ Jewish community as we celebrate Passover!
KHL is helping to sponsor this event. See the event page for more information.
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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
10 cards (with envelopes) for $36.
Or a single card for $5.
For any occasion, simcha, or offering of condolences, consider purchasing a card from KHL, showcasing our beautiful Torah mantle!
Please contact Linda Barton if you would like to purchase Mitzvah Cards.
Linda can also be reached at 410-371-2669.
Mitzvah cards will also be sent out to the community by the
KHL board and Rabbi Emily for special occasions.
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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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