About Kol Halev - Cleveland's Reconstructionist Community

Kol HaLev (formerly The Reconstructionist Havurah of Cleveland) is a caring, intimate, spiritual Jewish community numbering more than 100 households. Our diverse multi-generational community includes single persons, single-parent households, couples and families with varied life styles, intermarried couples and Jews by choice.

We are committed to tikkun olam, improving our world, through our commitment to the following core values:

Respect for diversity
Connectedness and intimacy
Participatory rituals and celebrations
Social justice and tzedakah
Ongoing learning
Participatory governance
Commitment to the Reconstructionist movement

Our History

We began in 1992 as a small group who came together out of an interest in Reconstructionist Judaism and a desire to create Jewish experiences that combine creativity and critical thinking, comfort and challenge, innovation and tradition. We named ourselves "The Reconstructionist Havurah of Cleveland".

If you've encountered the name "Havurah" before, it was probably used by a small fellowship, often persons at roughly the same stage in life, that has no rabbi and meets in its members' homes. Today our community has a diverse, inclusive, multi-generational membership of more than 100 households, Rabbi Steve Segar serves us full time, we have our own office, and we generally hold services at Agnon School.

In June 2004, we sought a new name for our community and selected Kol HaLev, which means "voice of the heart". To see photos, click here. We retain the Havurah spirit and a warm, intimate, friendly atmosphere and we hope to continue to grow and welcome those who, after learning about our community, decide to make their Jewish journey with us.

To learn about how we were formed and how we have grown, please visit our History page.

What does Kol HaLev do?

We pray, learn, celebrate, help each other and help others.

Our religious services are participatory and often member-led. They include egalitarian language and thought-provoking readings and draw from traditional and innovative sources. We celebrate many holidays and have multi-generational events whenever possible.

We learn in small classes and seminars - about Reconstructionism, Israel, Jewish texts and modern literature. and explore what it means to be Jewish in contemporary America.

We celebrate life cycle events - a Brit Milah, a baby naming, the start of a child's religious education, Bar and Bat Mitzvah and more - and we support each other at times of illness and death.

Other activities, many of which are described on these pages and can be noted on our calendar, give us opportunities to put our Jewish values into action. All our activities help to build a caring community that serves our needs and the needs of our families and the community at large.

Rabbi Steve Segar provides support and resources for members, who plan and lead most services, study sessions, holiday gatherings, and family programs. Jewish education for children is available through our affiliation with the Cleveland Hebrew Schools.

About Reconstructionist Judaism

Kol HaLev is a member of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, the youngest of the four organized streams of Judaism in North America. It is a growing movement; in 1992 there were less than 50 affiliated congregations and havurot, Now there are more than 100.

Reconstructionism is a progressive and contemporary approach to Jewish life which integrates a deep respect for traditional Judaism with the insights and ideas of contemporary social, intellectual and spiritual exploration. To learn more, click here.

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