Meet Our Interim Rabbi
Rabbi Steven Silvern
Rabbi Steven grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland blocks south of D.C. and a short walk from Oxon Creek and the Potomac River. He met his wife Linda (Rosenthal) when they were both counselors at Kaufmann Camp for Washington Jewish Boys and Girls (near Roosevelt Cliffs on the Chesapeake Bay).
Steven has his Ph.D. in Child Development and taught Early Childhood Education for 32 years. He is Professor Emeritus from Auburn University. He became a rabbi when the Jewish community of Auburn / Opelika, AL elected him to be the spiritual leader of the community. He led the community for 13 years and was ordained by the ALEPH Rabbinic Studies Program (now the ALEPH Ordination Program) in 2001. Steven is a member of Ohalah, Association of Rabbis and Cantors for Jewish Renewal.
In addition to ALEPH Steven has studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS, New York), Pardes (Jerusalem), Ohr Somayach Yeshiva (Monsey, NY and Jerusalem) and Bar Ilan University (Givat Shmuel, Israel; where he was also Visiting Research Professor). Steven recently retired as the Associate Dean of the ALEPH Ordination Program.
During their nearly 52-years of marriage, Steven and Linda have lived in Cheverly, MD, Madison WI, Arlington, TX, Auburn, AL, Falls Village, CT, and Baltimore. Their daughter, Becca and their son-in-law, Joe live in Perry Hall with their 2 sons Kol and Jesse.
Student Rabbi Emily Stern
Emily Stern is a Rabbinical Student with the ALEPH Ordination Program with a projected ordination date of January 2024. When asked why she wants to be a Rabbi, Emily becomes exhilarated because being a Rabbi entails offering much of what she loves most in the world.
Emily has a passion for chaplaincy and pastoral care. She trained as a chaplain at John’s Hopkins Hospital and is also currently studying to be a Mashpia, a Jewish spiritual director, through ALEPH. Emily is engaged with both group and individual work.
Emily grew up in a Reform congregation in Long Island, NY. Her undergraduate training comes from New York University’s Tisch school of the Arts where she received her degree in Drama. The creative elements of life continue to be of utmost importance to Emily. You can find her leading writing groups as she loves supporting intimate and individualized connection between Jewish practice and congregants in the most personal ways. She has also written a number of congregational melodies for the KHL community as a member of Shabbat Unplugged, our musical group.
Emily has served Kol HaLev this past year as the creator of Family Programming, and leader of our b’nai mitzvah program with Cantor George. Emily would like to thank Rabbi Steven Silvern for mentoring her so she can support the larger community of KHL through this period of time.
Emily looks forward to building something beautiful together this next year as Kol HaLev continues to find the “voice of its heart.”
Wed, February 8 2023
17 Shevat 5783
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Reconstructing Judaism
This past October, a minyan of Black Jewish leaders embarked on a historic pilgrimage to the Equal Justice Initiative’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice and neighboring Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, Alabama. As a first of its kind, the Reconstructionist Movement organized the trip focusing exclusively on American Jews of African descent grappling with the United States’ foundational sins and the necessary work for healing and teshuvah.
Join us virtually Thursday, February 9, 7:30 p.m. for Deconstructing Racism to Reconstruct Judaism: The Story of a Pilgrimage Down South as the leaders from the pilgrimage share powerful stories from their journey with a public audience for the first time. Registration is necessary for the link.
Black Lives Matter
Kol HaLev has joined over 400 Jewish synagogues and organizations that signed this declaration:
Jewish Organizations and Synagogues say: Black Lives Matter
We are Jewish organizations and synagogues from across the racial and political spectrum; from different streams of Judaism; whose members trace their lineage from countries around the world.
To read more, click here.
Chesed Network
Could you use some help? Would you like to be of help to someone else in our Kol HaLev community in their time of need? Our Chesed volunteers provide short-term practical help, such as preparing a meal for a family, giving a ride to someone, paying a visit, or making a friendly phone call.
Please let us know if you are in need of support, and/or if you would like to be a part of our Chesed team by contacting Laurie or Shira.
Please let us know if you are in need of support, and/or if you would like to be a part of our Chesed team by contacting Laurie or Shira.
KHL - Please Join Us
We are located in The Church of the Holy Comforter (CHC), 130 W. Seminary Avenue, Lutherville 21093. All Friday and Saturday Shabbat services are handicap accessible. For directions to the Shul please click here.
Wed, February 8 2023 17 Shevat 5783