Kol Sasson Congregation

05/24/2026

What do Jews and honey locust trees have in common? This, and other questions, were discussed during our Shavuot picnic at a local park (the sun came out just in time!) Kol Sasson President Rachel Novick (who is also the Director of Sustainabilty at the Morton Arboretum) led an interactive discussion on the intersection between Judaism and ecology. (Jews and honey locusts: they've both been around for centuries, and have survived and thrived by adapting to serious threats and changes in the environment!)

05/05/2026

Kol Sasson mourns the loss of Jonathan Wolf z"l, former Kol Sasson member, who did so much to help form the foundations of our growing and thriving community. Our deepest condolences to his family. Funeral details:

Age 74 of Evanston, Illinois

04/28/2026

Mazel tov to Caleb Novick (son of Rachel and Tzvi Novick, our President and Ritual VP) on winning third place in the Young Men's Division of the Walder Jerusalem Science Contest!

04/24/2026

Kol Sasson is thrilled to invite Kol Sasson and the broader community to our first Shabbaton on May 15-16 with our new halakhic advisor, Rabba Wendy Amsellem, Director of the Beit Midrash Program at Yeshiva Maharat. Please join us for a series of learning, singing, and spritual engagement on Shabbat May 16:

Lunch-n-Learn following services: there is no charge for Kol Sasson members, but donations to help defray the cost of catering are warmly encouraged.
Non-member fee is $20/adult, $10/child over age 5, free for children under age 5. Email [email protected] for more information.

03/15/2026

Join Kol Sasson for the second Kol Torah of the year on Shabbat, March 21, at 12:30PM, following tefillot, with a potluck lunch. Kol Sasson member Jane Shapiro will lead a study session on "Beyond the Sacrifices: New Ways to Enter Sefer Vayikra." Babysitting will be provided. https://www.kolsasson.org/event/kol-torah-jane-shapiro.html

02/22/2026

Last day to sign up to attend, bring a dish to share, and leave with mind and body fulfilled!
Babysitting will be provided.
https://www.kolsasson.org/event/kol-torah-claire-sufrin.html

02/05/2026

Please join us for our second Kol Torah of the year, led by Kol Sasson member Claire Sufrin, on Shabbat, February 28, at 12:30 pm, following tefillot.
Dr. Claire Sufrin is Director of Research and Publication at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she edits Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, and oversees the research seminars at the Institute's Kogod Research Center. She lives in Evanston, IL, with her husband, Michael Simon, and their two children.
All are welcome to join. Enjoy a communal potluck lunch (meat/pareve). Babysitting will be provided.

02/05/2026

A few photos from last weekend, which was jam-packed with terrific events! Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Deena Aranoff (and lunch!); in partnership with SVAJ, a family Tu B'Shvat Melavah Malka; and on Sunday, coffee with our new halachic advisor, Rabba Wendy Amsellem; and on Sunday night, a Tu B'Shvat meditative/historical experience led by our member Effie Ross.

01/23/2026

Join us for a Tu B'Shvat themed melaveh malkah facilitated by our amazing youth volunteer leaders! 🌳🌲🌿🌱 https://www.svaj.org/tu-bshvat-5786 #

12/26/2025

SAVE THE DATE: Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Deena Aranoff Shabbat January 30-31

Kol Sasson is excited to welcome Dr. Deena Aranoff, Faculty Director of the Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), as our Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat January 30-31.
Friday, January 30: Shiur at a private home, “Mother’s Milk: The Importance of Family Relations in the Making of Jewish Culture.”
Shabbat day, January 31: Dvar Torah, “The Episode of the Manna: Trust and the Practice of Shabbat;” followed by a catered Lunch ($18 per person, $54 per family max, kids under 12 free) and Learn (text study): “Household and Halakhah: The Central Role of Household Life in the Unfolding of Traditional Jewish Practices.”
Signup link coming soon!