Tisha b'Av
The "Annual Cycle"
The Jewish calendar -- our schedule of holidays, fasts and feasts, commemorations and celebrations -- can be seen as a tour of human experience and consciousness. I mean, it is a schedule that provides touch points, or stepping stones, as we encounter and explore what it means to be human, our psyches and our spirits as well as our connections to the world. It is a grand tour of values and wisdom, joys and sorrows, failures and fears and successes...the whole gamut of life. Some touch points have specific historical references that are transformed into universal and lasting reflections on the human condition. Passover. Chanukah. Sukkot.
This month -- July 21 -- we land again on Tisha b'Av, the ninth day of this summer month. It is an opportunity to begin reflecting on the brokenness, disintegration and "disconnect" that we then address and rectify during the coming High Holy Days (Days of Awe).
I want to encourage everyone to give yourselves over to the annual cycle, at least to acknowledge each of the milestones along the way. I believe there is a cumulative effect, and touching each "stepping stone," even for an hour, even lightly in your awareness, allows for a richer and more complete experience of the whole path.
Please join us on the evening of July 21 at 9:00 p.m. (as it gets dark) for a lament -- an acknowledgment of grief, sorrow, even mourning, for our life (both personal and communal) and world that needs repair (tikkun), wholeness (shalom), and at-one-ment (kaparah).
The Jewish calendar -- our schedule of holidays, fasts and feasts, commemorations and celebrations -- can be seen as a tour of human experience and consciousness. I mean, it is a schedule that provides touch points, or stepping stones, as we encounter and explore what it means to be human, our psyches and our spirits as well as our connections to the world. It is a grand tour of values and wisdom, joys and sorrows, failures and fears and successes...the whole gamut of life. Some touch points have specific historical references that are transformed into universal and lasting reflections on the human condition. Passover. Chanukah. Sukkot.
This month -- July 21 -- we land again on Tisha b'Av, the ninth day of this summer month. It is an opportunity to begin reflecting on the brokenness, disintegration and "disconnect" that we then address and rectify during the coming High Holy Days (Days of Awe).
I want to encourage everyone to give yourselves over to the annual cycle, at least to acknowledge each of the milestones along the way. I believe there is a cumulative effect, and touching each "stepping stone," even for an hour, even lightly in your awareness, allows for a richer and more complete experience of the whole path.
Please join us on the evening of July 21 at 9:00 p.m. (as it gets dark) for a lament -- an acknowledgment of grief, sorrow, even mourning, for our life (both personal and communal) and world that needs repair (tikkun), wholeness (shalom), and at-one-ment (kaparah).
Sat, January 19 2019
13 Shevat 5779
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KHL - Please Join Us at Our New Location
We have moved to The Church of the Holy Comforter (CHC), 130 W. Seminary Avenue, Lutherville 21093. All Friday and Saturday Shabbat services will now be held at CHC in the chapel. The chapel is handicap accessible.
Fund for the Future
Kol HaLev’s Fourth Annual Appeal is under way! Your dollars are crucial. They underwrite Rabbi Geoff and Cantor George, our expanded school program, and our adult learning programs. Just as importantly, your contribution helps us establish Kol HaLev’s long-term financial security. We’re shooting for 100% participation. Join us. Give now!
Shabbat Music
Kol HaLev, with the guidance of Cantor George has been introducing new, exciting, stimulating, joyful music to our services. Much of this music is for Friday nights and is played by Shabbat Unplugged on the fourth Friday night of the month. Shabbat Unplugged has made recordings so that the community can learn the melodies more easily. This link takes you to the recordings and the lyrics for the songs. (You can also access them from this home page under the Program tab above). Come and enjoy guitar, drum, voices and song!
Interfaith Learning and Discussion of the Hebrew Scripture with CHC: Focus on the Prophets.
Rabbi Geoff is joining Pastor Chris Tang in co-teaching the Wednesday morning "Bible Study" class at CHC. The theme is "Prophets and Prophecy," the timeless messages of the Hebrew prophets have importance and relevance for all. (And it is a chance to familiarize ourselves with less-often read books of TaNaCh.) This promises to be good learning and, even more important, good inter-faith conversation and expansion of understanding. ALL ARE WELCOME on Wednesdays, 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall.
Learn Hebrew!
Of all the entry points into the Jewish wisdom tradition, the Hebrew language is the "Golden Gate." Join Rabbi Geoff on Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Materials will be provided, and in no time you will gain skills to participate competently and comfortably in services, knowledge of key words and meanings, access to the wisdom embedded in the language -- the acquisition of immensely valuable resources to connect with and use, be they blessings, prayers, songs, Torah itself, and other texts. Please join us, your religious life and identity is about to get a lot richer!
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Weather Closing Policy
It is Kol HaLev's policy that if Baltimore County Schools are closed due to weather then any KHL service or event scheduled for that day will also be canceled and/or rescheduled.
Sat, January 19 2019 13 Shevat 5779