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September 16, 2025
September 16, 2025
This Shabbat
This Shabbat
*Please note - services will be held in the Chapel this week.*
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, September 19, 7:00pm
CHC Chapel and virtual
Join Rabbi Emily and Shira Kurrus to welcome Shabbat.
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Shabbat Morning
Saturday, September 20, 10:00am
CHC Chapel and virtual
Join Rabbis Emily and Steven, along with Cantorial Soloist Mara Yaffee for a Shabbat morning filled with song and prayer.
Betsy Wexler will be leading Torah meditation.
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Potluck
Saturday, September 20, after morning services
Following morning services, preceding 'My Journey with Marcie Weinstein' presentation.
Please bring some food to share: vegetarian, dairy, or fish.
It can be as simple as a bag of popcorn or as elaborate as spanakopita. Bon Appetit!
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"My Journey" Series
Saturday, September 20, after Potluck
Kol HaLev has launched a “My Journey” series where members are invited to tell their own personal story for the
purpose of getting to know each other better and building community.
This Shabbat, Marcie Weinstein, will be presenting her story after Shabbat morning services.
High Holidays
High Holidays
Please let us know when you will be coming to services this high holiday season with this link.
We are looking forward to seeing you and being together. Bring your friends!
There are no tickets or fee to attend - just registration.
Tashlich and Reverse Tashlich
Tuesday, September 23, 3:00pm-4:30pm
Are you wondering what reverse tashlich is? Read about it here.
This will be in Ruxton, the exact location will be given from the bima on Rosh Hashanah.
If you need the address prior to Rosh Hashanah, please email Betsy.
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Volunteers Needed for Yom Kippur Break Fast!
For our community potluck after Yom Kippur services, we need volunteers to set up tables and chairs, put out plates and utensils, arrange the food, and even, maybe, make a last-minute bagel run. Please contact Judy if you can help.
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Volunteers Needed
Contact Helene if you are able to help with flowers, would like to greet people, or move books for the high holidays.
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Second day of Rosh Hashanah Seder
Please register by September 18 at the latest!
Our seder will include a lunch that we’ll share together, woven
with blessings over symbolic foods of the season.
Since it’s a potluck, please take a look at our SignUpGenius to choose what
you’d like to bring. You’ll see there are plenty of options for those who love to
cook, as well as for those who prefer to shop. Everyone’s contribution is valued
and will help make our tables abundant and joyful.
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Check out this article from JMore about Rabbi Emily’s book!
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Yom Kippur Afternoon - One More Person!
Rabbi Emily is looking for one more person to teach or lead a break-out session.
If you’ve had an idea, but were not taking the plunge to tell Rabbi Emily about it, now’s the time to come forward!
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Yizkor
Yom Kippur Day, Thursday, October 2, 1:00pm
If you ever thought about whether to stay or leave before Yizkor, I wanted you to read this.
It shows all of us the importance of being there for others.
I urge you to attend the Yizkor service this year, especially if you have never lost a loved one, to honor those who have.
Blessings to all for a good year, a year of peace - health - a wholeness.
-Reb Tova
“It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.
‘Hello Eeyore,’ said Pooh.
‘Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet,’ said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.
‘We just thought we’d check in on you,’ said Piglet, ‘because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.’
“Eeyore was silent for a moment. ‘Am I okay?’ he asked, eventually. ‘Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.’
“Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.
Eeyore looked at them in surprise. ‘What are you doing?’
‘We’re sitting here with you,’ said Pooh, ‘because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.’
‘Oh,’ said Eeyore. ‘Oh.’
“And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
“Because Pooh and Piglet were There.”
(A.A. Milne, E.H. Shepard)
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We Remember Them...
We are asking that you send the names of your loved ones to us for our Yizkor remembrance service and booklet.
Our Yizkor service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Yom Kippur, Thursday, October 2. We will remember our loved ones: family, friends, and people we hold dear. Please email your list of names to Amy no later than Friday, September 26.
This Week
This Week
Daily Meditation and Shofar Blowing for Elul on Zoom!
Every day through Monday, September 22 (except Saturdays)
9:00am - 9:30am for the month of Elul - virtual
During the month of Elul, leading up to Rosh Hashanah, it
is customary to blow the shofar every day.
We are offering a daily meditation space culminating with Shofar
blowing for an half an hour every morning.
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Spiritual Connection Circle
Will resume after High Holidays, We hope to see you then!
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Interfaith Psalm Exploration with Rabbi Emily and Reverend Anne
Thursday, September 18, 11:00am-12:00pm
CHC Library
Rabbi Emily and Reverend Anne+ of Church of the Holy Comforter will be leading a discussion on the book
of psalms, a text shared by both our traditions. It is a good chance to reconnect with CHC.
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Service Leadership Workshop with Rabbi Emily
Thursday, September 18, 6:00pm - virtual
Join our weekly gathering to learn, study, and develop prayer leadership skills!
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High Holidays Begins!
Monday, September 22
See above for more information!
Save the Dates!
Save the Dates!
Crafting a Cozy, Colorful Sukkah Together
Art based Sunday School for all ages
Sunday, October 5, 10:00am-12:00pm
Please join us for Sukkah decorating at KHL! This is the first event in the new year to be followed by an
event on the first Sunday of the month from now until June. Each month will have a different theme.
Please RSVP to Laurie Rosenberg.
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Prayer Group with Kol HaLev and Church of the Holy Comforter
Monday, October 6, 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.
"My Journey" Series
Kol HaLev has launched a “My Journey” series where members are invited to tell their own personal story for the purpose of getting to
know each other better and building community. Witnessing people authentically share their stories can be fascinating, inspiring and often
lead to heart to heart connections. Some examples of what might be shared could be about family, career, something a person has overcome,
an inspiring aspect about a person's journey, or anything else that has led to learning a life lesson. One member will tell their story each week
after a potluck lunch after services. Here are the dates of the upcoming presentations. We welcome you to participate! Contact Laurie
at rosenberglaurie56@gmail.com or 301-467-5057 if you are interested.
October 18 - Betsy Wexler
October 25 - Kara Tyler
Community News
Community News
Linda Silvern and Reb Tova
They help wherever needed. Reb Tova leads the Yizkor Service on Yom Kippur and pitches in
whenever one of the staff needs help. They are both positive and energetic!
Thank you Linda and Reb Tova!
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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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A Community Vote - Jewish People Support Food Aid For Gaza
Rick Reiches presented a statement to the board suggesting that we take a vote as
a community to see if KHL would be in support of it.
It is a generally accepted fact that there is a severe famine in Gaza, and that it is the result of actions by the
IDF-Israeli Defense Force. The people at the website FoodAidForGaza.com have formulated a statement.
"Jewish people support food aid for people in Gaza and an immediate end to the Israeli government's food aid blockade."
We want to know if Kol HaLev as a congregation supports this statement. You will be receiving an email shortly asking
for an up or down vote on this statement. The decision will be based on a majority of votes.
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Annual CHC Blood Drive
Saturday, October 25, 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
CHC Parish Hall
Those interested in signing up should contact Alison.
Anyone planning to donate on October 25th should note
that the last day to donate blood prior to the CHC blood
drive is Saturday, August 30. The next day, August 31,
begins the required 56 days between donations.
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MI SHEBEIRACH REVAMP!!!
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. This Shabbat we will
begin a new system which we hope will be more efficient and allow us to give more personal attention and support to those in our KHL community who are in need of healing. 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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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!
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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!
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Have you gotten your Mitzvah Cards yet?
For any occasion, simcha, or offering of condolences, consider
purchasing a card from KHL, showcasing our beautiful Torah mantle!
Please contact Alan Silver if you would like to purchase Mitzvah Cards.
Alan can also be reached at 443-996-3445.
10 cards (with envelopes) for $36.
Or a single card for $5.
Website
Website
For more about Kol HaLev, our people, services, programs, and events,
check out the updated Kol HaLev website at www.kolhalevmd.org!
Newsletter
Newsletter
Contributing to the Newsletter: 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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