Dear KOE members and potential members,

The KOE community continues to change, evolve and spiritually grow.  We are always looking for ways to add vibrancy to our tefilot, inspire our daveners and meet the needs of our ever changing community. However, KOE remains a true grassroots organization.  Realizing our goals as a community is significantly dependant on our membership.

This year we have the exciting opportunity to work with our new Rosh Kehilah, Dina Najman.  Her knowledge, long experience teaching and wide ranging experience within the halachic world will bring a new perspective to the community, and her enthusiasm for KOE and its values will help her lead us as we continue our  spiritual journey. 

We encourage you to become a member of KOE.   Your membership dues go directly to cover rent, other operating expenses, programming, and support the development of new programs. 

Your commitment should not stop there.  We are always looking for new and exciting ideas to expand our community and our programming.  We recognize that part of being a community is to fulfill the needs of the members of that community.  If you have any ideas, we would love to hear them.

Whether you have been a part of KOE from its inception, when the minyan met in Rabbi Finkelstein’s z”l apartment, or you are just discovering our community, we rely on all of you to ensure that our davening space is prepared for davening and cleaned afterwards, that kiddushes, learning, and meals are organized, that KOE’s tradition of service to the community is upheld and of course that the beautiful davening, laining, and divrei Torah that are cornerstones of KOE continue.

Therefore, we strongly encourage you to participate in our Twelve Hours Program.   We ask that each member give a suggested minimum of twelve hours per year of service, or whatever your schedule allows.  These hours can be performed in many ways, depending on your interests, including (but not limited to):

• Toranut: setting up for davening in the morning or preparing for and cleaning after kiddush.
• Involvement in services: Davening, Laining, Haftorah, D’var Torah etc.
• Chesed programs: Staffing our shift at Ansche Chesed's Shelter, blood drives and one time events.
• Committee membership: Involvement on a committee is a great way to gain an understanding of the values that shape the minyan as well as to impact on the present and future of KOE.

Whether you are renewing your membership or joining for the first time, I encourage you to select how you wish to fill your time commitment at the same time you pay your dues to help support KOE financially.   Please be aware that while we have suggested minimums for membership dues, no one is ever turned away from being a member if those minimums are not met, due to financial constraints of an individual.  Please fill out the Membership Response Form.

Organizers of the programs in which you express interest will contact you regarding how you can help. 

Mail the form and your check to KOE, Box 508, 2576 Broadway, New York, NY 10025. You can also fill out the form and pay your membership dues online.

If you have any questions or suggestions for new members or the congregation at large that you would like to share, please feel free to approach any member of the executive board or e-mail me at membership@koe.org.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Welcome to KOE!

Jonathan Gersch
Vice President for Membership