Synagogue and Church Celebrate their Interfaith Bond with Mezuzah-Affixing Ceremony

October 29, 2024 JMORE Staff

Kol HaLev member Shira Kurrus admires one of the mezuzot to be affixed to the church as a symbol of communal and interfaith unity. (Photo by Robyn Stevens Brody)

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

It’s fairly safe to say that it’s quite unique for a synagogue and a church to celebrate their coexistence under one roof with a mezuzah-affixing ceremony. But that’s exactly what happened last Friday, Oct. 25, when leaders and congregants of the Kol HaLev community and Lutherville’s Church of the Holy Comforter gathered to celebrate their fellowship and communal unity.

Denise Noll and Rev. Anne Nicholson — Denise Noll (left), senior warden of the Church of the Holy Comforter, prays with the Rev. Anne Nicholson. (Photo by Robyn Stevens Brody)

The ceremony — which featured the affixing of mezuzot on doorposts throughout the church — took place shortly before a musical program to celebrate the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah.

Alan Silver (left) — Kol Ha Lev president Alan R. Silver (left) shares the meaning of the Shema prayer with fellow congregants. (Photo by Robyn Stevens Brody)

Among those in attendance were Kol HaLev’s Rabbi Emily Stern and Cantor George Henschel, as well as the Rev. Anne Nicholson, Holy Comforter’s rector, and Denise Noll, the church’s senior warden.

Rabbi Emily Stern (left) and Ricki Henschel — Rabbi Emily Stern (left) and Kol HaLev secretary Ricki Henschel affix a mezuzah to the Parish Hall doorpost. (Photo by Robyn Stevens Brody)

“The Church of the Holy Comforter is blessed to be in partnership with Kol HaLev,” said Rev. Nicholson. “It was an honor to be included in the mezuzah hanging service and to celebrate with them as they continue to make this place their spiritual home.”

A band of musicians performs a few spiritual tunes following the mezuzah-affixing program. (Photo by Robyn Stevens Brody)

A Reconstructionist congregation founded in 2007, Kol HaLev has shared space with the church, located at 130 W. Seminary Avenue, since August of 2018. Holy Comforter belongs to the Episcopal Church denomination.

Rabbi Emily Stern is all smiles while carrying Kol HaLev’s Torah and its new cover. (Photo by Robyn Stevens Brody)

“After Sukkot, and the High Holiday season, we come back to our homes — Changed. Different. More intentional,” said Rabbi Emily. “Hanging mezuzot in a Jewish space is a way for Jews in the community to identify this as a holy space for us. And it gives us all a chance to recognize the endeavor we embody here. The mezuzah can hold all of that — our gratitude for the Church of the Holy Comforter community, our partnership, our love.”