Kol HaLev: A Brief 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.