{{Infobox religious building | building_name = Congregation Kol Shofar | image = KolShofarSanctuary.JPG | image_upright = 1.4 | caption = Kol Shofar's sanctuary space | map_type = San Francisco Bay Area | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Location in [[San Francisco Bay Area]] | location = 215 Blackfield Drive, [[Tiburon, California|Tiburon]], [[Marin County]], [[California]] | geo = {{coord|37.90435|-122.501893|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation =[[Conservative Judaism]] | rite = | region = | province = | territory = | prefecture = | sector = | district = | country = United States | cercle = | municipality = | consecration_year = | status = [[Synagogue]] | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = | leadership = Rabbi Paul Steinberg | website = {{url|kolshofar.org}} | architecture = | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = | general_contractor = | facade_direction = | established = {{ubl|1962 {{small|(as a congregation)}}|1984 {{small|(in current location)}}}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = 2010 | construction_cost = | specifications = | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | height_max = | dome_quantity = | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = | minaret_height = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | materials = | nrhp = | added = | refnum = | designated = }} '''Congregation Kol Shofar''' is a [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] [[synagogue]] founded in 1962 and located in [[Tiburon, California|Tiburon]], [[Marin County]], [[California]], in the United States. The congregation is led by Rabbi Paul Steinberg, who was ordained by the [[Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies]].<ref name=Rabbis>[http://kolshofar.org/about-us/meet-our-staff/ Kol Shofar – Meet Our Staff]</ref>
==History== In the 1960s and 1970s, Kol Shofar was a nomadic congregation, meeting in various locations around Marin County. In 1984 it acquired its current location at 215 Blackfield Drive in Tiburon.<ref name="Palevsky">Palevsky, Stacey, [http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/37190/with-shofars-blasting-kol-shofar-moves-into-temporary-home/ With shofars blasting, Kol Shofar moves into temporary home], ''J Weekly'', February 12, 2009</ref> The Blackfield location was previously home to Reedland Woods Middle School from 1970 to 1976.<ref name=Fanning>Fanning, Branwell, ''The Tiburon Peninsula'', Arcadia Publishing, 2006, page 118</ref>
===Expansion=== In 2006, Kol Shofar submitted plans to expand its synagogue space. The Tiburon Neighborhood Coalition opposed the construction, citing the traffic and noise impact due to the size of a new multi-purpose room and a proposed 27 additional events with up to 250 persons. That summer, the Tiburon Planning Commission rejected the expansion plans, claiming that Kol Shofar refused to engage in compromise discussions. As a result of the Planning Commission's rejection, the issue was brought to the attention of the town council who later that year approved a reduced synagogue expansion plan with restrictions on hours, parking, and number of events, as well as reducing the size of the social hall by 15 percent.<ref name="Jason" /> Kol Shofar argued that Tiburon's restrictions would violate the federal [[Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act]] (RLUIPA), which prohibits "substantial burdens" on the exercise of religion by government regulations. [[The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty]] threatened litigation on behalf of Kol Shofar depending on the outcome.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/25/BAGDKLVHMH1.DTL&hw=kol+shofar&sn=001&sc=1000 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913062444/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/25/BAGDKLVHMH1.DTL&hw=kol+shofar&sn=001&sc=1000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |title=TIBURON / Opposing sides square off at hearing over synagogue / Expansion proposal pits religion against neighborhood issues |first=Peter |last=Fimrite |date=2006-10-25 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> Both Tiburon and Kol Shofar were sued by the Coalition in March 2007, alleging environmental and land-use violations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/TIBURON-Neighbors-sue-city-for-approving-2577158.php |title=TIBURON / Neighbors sue city for approving synagogue's planned expansion |first=Peter |last=Fimrite |date=2007-03-28 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>
In 2008, a Marin Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the expansion, and the Coalition filed an appeal with the 1st District Court of Appeal.<ref name="Jason">Jason, Will, [http://www.marinij.com/ci_15928832 Tiburon synagogue, neighbors look to future] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830202620/http://www.marinij.com/ci_15928832 |date=2010-08-30 }} ''Marin Independent Journal'', August 28, 2010</ref> The appeal was ultimately dropped later that same year, and Kol Shofar was able to proceed, agreeing not to seek repayment of court costs.<ref name="Staats">Staats, Jim, [http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10701054 Tiburon synagogue neighbors drop appeal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404174736/http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10701054 |date=2012-04-04 }}, ''Marin Independent Journal'', October 11, 2008</ref>
===Construction=== Construction on the new space began in April 2009.<ref name=Pazornik>Pazornik, Amanda [http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/59001/rejuvenated-kol-shofar-has-everyone-happily-back-under-one-domed-roof Rejuvenated Kol Shofar has Everyone Happily Back under One Roof], ''J Weekly'', August 19, 2010</ref> The congregation held services in neighboring Westminster Presbyterian Church from February 8, 2009 until August 27, 2010.<ref name=Reopening>[http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/59002/weekend-events-celebrate-reopening Weekend events celebrate reopening], J Weekly, August 19, 2010</ref> On August 27, 2010, the congregation held its first Shabbat services in its renovated sanctuary. The next day Kol Shofar held a reopening celebration. Members of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] Jewish community were in attendance. The project costed $17.5 million, adding a brand new {{convert|8300|sqft|m2|adj=on}} social hall, additional parking, and four class rooms, as well as a renovated sanctuary space.<ref name="Jason" /> Herman Coliver Locus Architecture of San Francisco designed the project.<ref name="Jason" />
==Clergy== The following individuals have served as [[rabbi]]s for the congregration:
* Rabbi Daniel B. Kohn * Rabbi Jacob Milgrom ( - 1975) * Rabbi Aryeh Wineman (1975 – 1977) * Rabbi David White (1977 – 1991) * Rabbi Lavey Darby (1991 – 2010) * Rabbi Chai Levy (2002 – 2018) * Rabbi Susan Leider (2012 – 2022) * Rabbi Paul Steinberg (since 2017)
== Gallery == <gallery> Kolshofarfront.JPG|The [[facade]] of the Kol Shofar synagogue Kolshofarsanctuary.JPG|Kol Shofar's sanctuary facing the Ark and [[Ner Tamid]] </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.kolshofar.org}}
{{Synagogues in the United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kol Shofar}} [[Category:Conservative synagogues in California]] [[Category:Synagogues in Marin County, California]] [[Category:Tiburon, California]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1962]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 2010]] [[Category:1962 establishments in California]] [[Category:21st-century synagogues in the United States]]