Kol Zimrah

{{short description|Independent minyan in Manhattan, New York}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox religious building | building_name = Kol Zimrah | native_name = | image = | image_upright = | caption = | map_type = Upper West Side | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Location on the [[Upper West Side]] of [[Manhattan]] | location =[[Upper West Side]], [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] | geo = | latitude = | longitude = | religious_affiliation = [[Judaism]] | rite = [[Non-denominational Judaism|Unaffiliated]] | region = | province = | territory = | prefecture = | sector = | district = | cercle = | municipality = | country = United States | consecration_year = | status = | functional_status = Inactive | heritage_designation = | leadership = ''[[Laity|Lay]]-led'' | website = {{url|kolzimrah.info}}{{dead-link|date=August 2018}} | architecture = | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = | general_contractor = | facade_direction = | established = 2002 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = | 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 = }} '''Kol Zimrah''' ([[transliterated]] from [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] as "Voice of Song") is an [[Non-denominational Judaism|unaffiliated]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregation, also called an [[independent minyan|independent ''minyan'']] or ''[[chavurah]]'', that is based on the [[Upper West Side]] of [[Manhattan]], in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States.

== Overview == Founded in 2002, the congregation's [[motto]] is "meaningful prayer through music".<ref name=Michaelson2003>{{cite news |author=Michaelson, Jay |url=https://forward.com/news/7093/a-prayer-group-of-their-own/ |title=A Prayer Group of Their Own |work=[[The Forward]] |date=November 14, 2003 |access-date= }}</ref> It does not identify itself with any of the established [[Jewish religious movements]], and has a style of prayer that does not fit neatly into the styles associated with any of them.<ref>[http://www.zeek.net/801roundtable/ "D.I.Y. Judaism: A Roundtable on the Independent Minyan Phenomenon"], ''Zeek'', Spring/Summer 2007, p. 25.</ref>

The congregation met regularly for Friday night services which combined [[Hebrew language]] liturgy with musical instruments and singing.<ref name=Michaelson2003/>

Like other ''chavurot'', Kol Zimrah had no [[rabbi]] or other professional leadership, and was run completely by volunteers. It used a "two-table" system at its [[potluck]] dinners (one table with vegetarian food, and one table with vegetarian food in which all ingredients have kashrut certification) in order to accommodate different standards of [[kashrut]] in a pluralistic community.<ref>Sue Fishkoff, [http://www.hazon.org/go.php?q=/readingroom/00-hazonInTheNews/20061026-JTA_-_DietaryChangesAfootButAreTheyKosher.html "Dietary changes afoot, but are they kosher? That depends what it means"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905072227/http://www.hazon.org/go.php?q=%2Freadingroom%2F00-hazonInTheNews%2F20061026-JTA_-_DietaryChangesAfootButAreTheyKosher.html |date=2010-09-05 }}, ''[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]'', October 29, 2006.</ref>

Kol Zimrah had a "sibling" relationship with [[Tikkun Leil Shabbat]] in [[Washington, D.C.]],<ref>[[Joelle Novey]], "Our Sponges Are Praying: How a Dish System Reflects Pluralism, Environmentalism, Egalitarianism, and Community at Tikkun Leil Shabbat in Washington, DC", in Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, ''Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities'', Jewish Lights Publishing, 2010.</ref> one of the few other congregations that has services in the same style (musical instruments and the traditional structure of the liturgy).<ref>Neela Banerjee, [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/us/28minyan.html "Challenging Tradition, Young Jews Worship on Their Terms"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 28, 2007.</ref>

Kol Zimrah ceased activities after 2014.<ref>[http://kolzimrah.info/ Kol Zimrah website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217133519/http://kolzimrah.info/ |date=2014-12-17 }}, 2014: "Kol Zimrah is currently not holding regular services."</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official|http://www.kolzimrah.info}}{{dead-link|date=August 2018}} * {{twitter|kolzimrah}}

[[Category:2002 establishments in New York City]] [[Category:Chavurot]] [[Category:Independent minyanim]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 2002]] [[Category:Synagogues in Manhattan]] [[Category:Unaffiliated synagogues in New York City]] [[Category:Upper West Side]]