Our Name

We take our name from biblical verses that represent two of our main goals: transforming ourselves and transforming the world.

Kol Zimrah means "the voice of music". Our community takes its name from two biblical verses that contain this phrase and represent two of our main goals: transforming ourselves and transforming the world.

As we welcome Shabbat, we sing

Zam'ru lAdonai b'chinor, b'chinor v'kol zimrah.

Sing praise to God with the lyre, with the lyre and melodious song. (Psalm 98:5)

We use vocal and instrumental music to give voice to our inner prayers, so that we can sing out before God. We join as a community to create a sacred and transcendent prayer space.

As Shabbat departs, some say the verse

Ki nicham Adonai Tziyon, nicham kol chorvoteha, vayasem midbarah k'Eden v'arvatah k'gan Adonai, sason v'simchah yimatzei vah, todah v'kol zimrah.

"God has comforted Zion, comforted all its ruins, and has made its wilderness like Eden, its desert like God's garden. Gladness and joy will be found there, thanksgiving and the sound of music." (Isaiah 51:3)

When we have poured out our prayers, filled with joy and thanksgiving and music, it will inspire us to turn the deserts of the world into blooming gardens.

We bring in Shabbat with the kol zimrah, so that we may enter the new week ready to rebuild the ruins into a world where the kol zimrah will be heard everywhere.