Get Involved with Kolot

Kolotniks are what makes Kolot special! Whether you are looking for opportunities to participate in services, education, social justice work, or more, we would love to help you deepen your involvement with Kolot; all hands our needed to build our community! Read more about all of Kolot’s offerings below!

  • We meet daily Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. Join our morning minyan to pray and share gratitude. Join via Zoom. For more information, please contact Sandra.

    • In addition to our regular Saturday morning Shabbat offering, Cantor Lisa B. Segal and Student Rabbi Hadar Ahuvia lead Kabbalat Shabbat services every third Friday evening of the month. This grounding entry into Shabbat includes musical Kabbalat Shabbat and brief Ma’ariv service, with a focus on psalms, ritual, music, poetry, and special guests. Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of membership status. Email Info@kolotchayeinu.org for the Zoom link, or find it at the top of the Weekly.

    • Kids are invited to join us once a month on Friday evenings for Shabbat Sheli and twice a month on Saturday mornings for our Early Childhood programs. Email Director of Lifelong Learning Jessica Moore at JessicaMoore@kolotchayeinu.org to find out more.

    Learn more about our Shabbat offerings here!

  • Email Kolotnik Rabbi Max Reynolds at mackenzie.zev@gmail.com if you would like to chant Torah or write and present a D'var Torah, a brief commentary on the week's Torah portion, at Shabbat morning services. Email Cantor@kolotchayeinu.org if you are interested in leyning or learning more. Learn more about drashes here!

  • Do you want to play an important role in welcoming Kolotniks into the Sanctuary? Take a moment now to email Administrative Manager Malkie Grozalsky at MalkieG@kolotchayeinu.org, so you can join the wonderful group of congregants who Shamas periodically throughout the year. Here's how it works:

    • There are always two Shamas volunteers each Shabbat, so you will be part of a team

    • You pick the Shabbat dates that work for you

    • We will go over the Shamasing guidelines in advance

    • We will match you with an experienced Shamas for your first shift

    Thanks for volunteering to be a Shamas!

  • If you’re interested in singing or you play an instrument, we’d love to know, especially as we have grown. Please email Cantor Lisa at Cantor@kolotchayeinu.org. 

  • Informal, engaging, provocative wrestling with the weekly parsha. Torah Study meets every Shabbat morning at 9:00 a.m. in-person and on Zoom. Email co-chair Janet Price at msjrprice@gmail.com to learn more. To be added to the Torah Study listserv to receive materials about the weekly parsha, email Info@kolotchayeinu.org.

  • Members of our Gemilut Chasadim committee help Kolotniks with shivas as well as meals, visits, errands, and other support. If you or someone you know in the Kolot community is experiencing a time of needing communal support (mourning a loss/welcoming the arrival of a new baby/navigating an illness, for example), or if you would like to offer support to Kolotniks during such moments, please contact BrettParker@kolotchayeinu.org. And, if you find yourself needing a helping hand, please reach out to Kathy Blyn at kblyn3@gmail.com. That is what the Gemilut Chasadim team and the Kolot community are here for!

  • Kolot is proud to be a member of the Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform, whose work this year focuses on suppclosing Riker’s Jail, and an ally to the Caring Majority Campaign. If you are interested in supporting either campaign and organizing around their goals in Kolot community, please reach out to Brett Parker at BrettParker@kolotchayeiu.org

  • Kolot is pleased to have joined the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, and are strong supporters of both Dayenu and Jewish Youth Climate Movement. Building upon a robust history of bank divestment, Kolot is beginning to steward our climate impact plan forward and launch a Dayenu Circle. If you are interested in getting involved in this work, please reach out to Kolotnik Liz Schalet at lschalet@gmail.com.

  • If you identify as a person of color and are interested in sharing and building Kolot’s anti-racist journey and/or you are part of a multiracial family, other Kolotniks of color are eager to build community with you and/or your families. Please email RWG co-chairs Lisa Zbar at lisazbar@gmail.com and Yonii Bock at mollyraebock610@gmail.com, and learn more here.

  • Help facilitate conversations among members to process our individual and collective feelings towards the crisis and horrors that have continued to unfold in Israel/Palestine, and create opportunities for members to engage with/review/revise Kolot’s Open Tent policy. Reach out to co-chairs Yonii Bock and Julia Gruberg at IPTaskforce@kolotchayeinu.org.

  • This group’s main goal of the Immigrant/Refugee Working Group (IRWG) is to share information about the issues and ways to advocate for and stand with immigrants and refugees locally and nationally. Contact Ellen Garvey at ellenggarvey@gmail.com and Nancy Goldhill at ngoldhill@gmail.com to be added to the IRWG listserv and receive opportunities to be involved in advocacy to continue the Jewish legacy of welcoming the stranger.

  • Organize and put on fun new programs and events for Queer and Trans Kolotniks throughout the year. Reach out to HaraConnell@kolotchayeinu.org to get connected.

  • Help to recruit, welcome, and build community with both current and new members throughout the year by planning and executing fun new programs and events. Reach out to Director of Operations Hara Connell at HaraConnell@kolotchayeinu.org.

  • Help expand the culture of philanthropy here at Kolot, thereby ensuring that Kolot continues to grow and thrive for decades to come! Email BrettParker@kolotchayeinu.org to find out more.

  • Support Kolot’s Youth & Family Programming. Contact Director of Lifelong Learning Jessica Moore at JessicaMoore@kolotchayeinu.org.

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  • Interested in oral history? The Kolot Chayeinu Oral History Project is always excited to train new people and expand our team. For more info, contact lpovitz@gmail.com or check out the Kolot Chayeinu Oral History Project website!

  • Help us keep things running smoothly! Do large mailings, make phone calls, and more. Contact BrettParker@kolotchayeinu.org .

  • Have a child who’s ~7 or under (older sibs also welcome) and want to keep in touch with other Kolotnik carers of young children for connection and community building? Join our new WhatsApp group! To be added, just get in touch with Kolotnik parent Garrett Albistegui Adler at Garrett.M.Adler@gmail.com and share your WhatsApp number. 

  • If you have interests and/or skills you'd like to contribute that don't seem to have an obvious match with the above, email BrettParker@kolotchayeinu.org.