In May 2000, six families began Chavurat Kol Haneshama as an alternative monthly Kabbalat Shabbat Service, imbued with warmth, joyfulness, music and spirituality. Because of its success and popularity, Chavurat Kol Haneshama added monthly Shabbat Morning services in October 2002.
The four goals of the services are to: 1 - create services which encourage participation; 2 - enhance worship through music; 3 - foster a sense of community; and 4 - teach and learn from one another.
Chavurat Kol Haneshama takes its name from the last line of the 150th Psalm, which reads "Let every breath of life praise God."
Chavurat Kol Haneshama is a group of individuals that comes together to celebrate the Shabbat in a spiritual manner. The group meets once monthly on Friday evenings at 7:45 p.m. for Kabbalat Shabbat services and once monthly on Saturday mornings at 9:45 a.m. for Shabbat morning services. Services, normally led by Jules Frankel, are egalitarian and Conservative in nature and focus on and celebrate the musical and spiritual beauty of our liturgy. The Chavurah uses the new egalitarian “Sim Shalom Siddur” and integrates instrumental music into the tefillot in a manner that maintains the dignity befitting Shabbat. In addition the Chavurah uses a junior size, family heirloom, Torah lent to us by the Cheslow Family. (Read more about this unique Torah) The Chavurah is designed to supplement rather than substitute for one’s own synagogue experience and is open to those who seek an alternative service. Services usually are held at the Elks Club in East Brunswick. Click here for directions.