How to get in touch / Jump in:
- Committees and what they do are listed below. Check them out to discover what feels exciting to you!
- Committee Chairs' names are listed on Page 2 of Kol HaLev Happenings, our monthly member newsletter.
- Chairs' and other members' contact info can be found in our Membership List, available to members only. Members, click here to log with your User Name and Password; once you are logged in, the Membership List will show as an option under the Member Resources tab.
- Kol HaLev board members are also always happy to learn more about your interests and help guide your participation. For a list of our Board members, click here.
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Communications
Kol HaLev has three main communication vehicles:
- Monthly Newsletter for members
- Weekly Email Update for members
- Public Website
Through these vehicles, we help keep our members informed, excited, and connected. Do you like to write? Do you like to help others tell their stories? Do you like to organize information? Are you good with deadlines? Do you have a good eye and some experience with design software? If any of these things interest you, helping with Kol HaLev communications may be for you.
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Adult Education
Our Adult Education Committee plans and implements a wide range of creative adult learning experiences which encourage meaningful communal engagement and personal development. Through Torah study, meditation, book group, and workshops on topics ranging from environmental activism to wise aging, members can broaden their understanding of Judaism spiritually, historically, culturally and religiously, with attention to the Reconstructionist viewpoint.
This committee also helps other committees develop educational programs related to their own objectives. Learn more about Kol HaLev Adult Education here.
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Cemetery
Cemetery committee deals with Kol HaLev's section of Hillcrest Cemetery and the rules for purchasing plots for use by Kol HaLev members and their families. To learn more, Learn more about our cemetery options and committee here. |
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Fundraising Committee
Engages in developing fundraising strategies, campaigns, and events. |
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Finance Committee
The Finance Committee prepares our annual budget with assistance from the Treasurer and from other committees. It is also responsible for monitoring the treasury function and coordinating funds.
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Hesed Committee
Hesed means "loving kindness". Our Hesed Committee performs Gmilut Hasadim - acts of loving kindness - to the members of our community by aid and support during life cycle events and other times of need. We arrange for meals or transportation for members who are ill, bereaved, or experiencing transitions such as new parenthood. We ensure minyans for shiva services, send gifts and cards as appropriate, and may mobilize a phone tree to contact members about timely matters. Our small committee can provide these acts because over the course of the year, nearly all of our members help in some way or other. If you have a need, know someone who does, or would like to volunteer to help, please contact the chair.
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High Holy Days Committee
Each year our tradition of participation can be seen in the work of the High Holy Days Committee which helps coordinate our celebration of the High Holy Days. Then it "orchestrates" the hundreds of small steps that will create our observance of the Days of Awe. Nearly all of our members play a part – large or small – in this process.
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Holidays Committee
Organizing our holiday celebrations – Hanukkah, Purim, Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Tu B'shvat, and more – is the mission of the Holidays Committee. It emphasizes both community-wide celebrations and building intergenerational activities.
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Kiddush Coordinator
Prior to the pandemic, our Shabbat services were often followed by a member-hosted kiddush meal or potluck. The kiddush coordinator managed member sign-up for hosting and maintained our Guidelines for Hosting. At this time, our kiddush gatherings are less formal, and as such don't need coordination, but are still wonderful opportunities to build community and get to know each other better. As public health guidelines change, we update our communal eating practices. Please visit our Community Brit page for our communal eating guidelines.
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Marketing
Our marketing committee creates strategy and opportunities designed to better communicate and strenthen our brand and messaging, and attract new members to the community. This committee's work permeates many of the activities being undertaken across our community.
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Membership Committee
This committee helps engage new members in community life and works to keep all members connected to community and each other.
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Rabbi Liaison Committee
This committee is part of the support system for Rabbi Steve Segar. It meets to hear his views of how things are going and what needs he might have, to share feedback with him from the community, and to be a sounding board for his ideas, concerns, and plans.
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Religious Practices Committee
Our Religious Practices Committee (see Bylaws), working closely with Rabbi Steve, arranges for our Shabbat and holiday services. This includes guiding the creation of Shabbat practices with input from the community, selecting service leaders and leyners, evaluating services that have been held, and more. The committee conducts workshops on leading a service, on the structure of a service, and the meaning of prayer. It also determines many of our ritual practices, e.g., how we handle kashrut as a community. With the rabbi's advice and the participation of members, this committee may also make recommendations on guidelines for related matters, such as Shabbat Practice Guidelines, the role of non-Jews in Kol HaLev rituals, and our B'nai Mitzvah celebrations, for Board approval. See our Services page.
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Safety Committee
Information forthcoming
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Tikkun Olam (formerly Social Action)
Our goal is to provide our members with opportunities for tikkun olam (repairing the world). Projects are created for people of all ages with the hope that they will be inspired to volunteer in some way during the year. We plan various avenues in which one may give of themselves, from opportunties for donations of food, time, or money to a food bank, aiding a housing project for the homeless, or political action initiatives in support of local needs.
Our Climate Change committee is particularly active, and often works with the Adult Education committee to plan programs on topics related to the climate change crisis.
Kol HaLev is also an active organization member in the Greater Cleveland Congrations (GCC), with many of our members participating in GCC activities and initiatives. See our Tikkun Olam page for more info.
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Youth and Family Education
This committee addresses the educational needs of our children and provides support to our educators.
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