Kol Halev was co-founded by Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner and Jakob Rosenzweig in 2016 to address the need for a more meditative, spirit filled, and community space to bring in Shabbat. Since then, Kol Halev has expanded beyond a shabbat community. It has taken different forms and gathered in many spaces in and around New Orleans to sing, learn, observe holy days, and pray together. In 2025 Kol Halev affiliated with Aleph and defined itself as a renewal community. Kol Halev will continue to change and grow to reflect the vision of the community.