Fridays at 7:00 pm
In person & online (hybrid)
At Kol HaLev, Shabbat is always musical.
Music is not a special addition to our services. it is the heartbeat of our prayer. Every Kabbalat Shabbat is filled with song, weaving together voice, instruments, and silence in a way that opens the heart.
Our services range in tone and texture. From contemplative, meditative prayer experiences led by Rabbi Emily Stern and Shira Ahava Kurrus on viola, to lay-led communal services, and even fuller ensemble evenings with layered harmonies and original melodies. We play instruments on Shabbat and draw from a wide range of musical traditions — including our own homegrown compositions as well as melodies from Nava Tehila, Debbie Friedman, Craig Taubman, Noam Katz, and others.
In-person services are held in the Church of the Holy Comforter Chapel (corner of W. Seminary Ave and Bellona Ave, Lutherville, MD).
Please check our newsletter and calendar for current details.
Shabbat Unplugged is one vibrant expression of our musical Shabbat.
Held on the fourth Friday of each month when Cantor Emeritus George Henschel joins us, Shabbat Unplugged features an ensemble of prayer leaders and often includes original compositions and fresh arrangements.
While every Shabbat at Kol HaLev is musical, this service highlights the richness of our ensemble and the creative spirit that pulses through our community.
One Friday each month, our Prayer Leadership Group leads the service. This group meets weekly to cultivate the art and skill of prayer leadership, and these lay leaders bring thoughtful teachings, personal reflections, and carefully prepared liturgy to the bimah, offering words that are often wise, surprising, and deeply rooted in lived experience. Their voices and insights deepen our communal prayer it is one of the ways our community practices shared spiritual leadership.
Teacher and professional musician Paula Faith Kurrus (Shira Ahava) supports Rabbi Emily Stern with her violin, viola, guitar, piano, and voice during various Kol HaLev services, and as a member of the Kol HaLev Unplugged shul band led by Cantor George Henschel. Shira is currently enrolled in the ALEPH Hashpa’ah program and will receive her certificate as a Spiritual Director in January 2027. She is married to guitarist Robby Kurrus, who also shares his music with Kol HaLev. Robby, along with Rabbi Steven Silvern, composed two of the prayers we regularly sing during our services ‘May we Bless’ and ‘Kaddish Meditation’.
Rabbi Steven Silvern has been playing with Kol HaLev unplugged for 10 years. He plays guitar, mandolin and hand drum (not all at the same time). Davennen with a guitar takes Steven deeper than davennen with a Siddur. He is Professor Emeritus from Auburn University, and a retired rabbi.
At Kol HaLev, the Voice of the Heart, you can expect an experience that touches your life, not just your calendar.
You will not have to fit a mold or prove what you believe. We respect your questions, doubts, and spiritual path, and your presence will matter from the moment you arrive.
Under Rabbi Emily’s leadership, you can join a warm community where people know your name, listen to your story, and care about you.
Through music-filled, participatory services, prayer becomes something felt, not just words on a page. Singing together creates moments of joy and connection to yourself and others.
We celebrate and share life’s meaningful moments together, and support each other through illness or loss. Many members describe Kol HaLev as a family by choice.
Rooted in Reconstructing Judaism, Kol HaLev invites thoughtful exploration rather than rigid answers. You will encounter teachings and conversations that feel relevant, honest, and meaningful.
Kol HaLev offers room to connect with yourself, explore your spirituality, and deepen your sense of purpose in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.
Rabbi Emily Stern’s warmth, wisdom, and accessibility shape every aspect of community life, creating an atmosphere that feels caring, grounded, and deeply human.
Whether to yourself, to other people, or to Jewish life, Kol HaLev is a place where connection grows and becomes part of your life.
