Rooted deeply. Growing wisely. Cultivating community.
Upcoming Events
Family Service & Shabbat Dinner
Friday, December 5, 2025
5:30 PM
Shabbat Late Night
Friday, December 5, 2025
8:30 PM
Consecration Service
Saturday, December 6, 2025
10:00 AM
Concert with Michael Ochs
Saturday, December 6, 2025
7:00 PM
On Sunday, the gates of the Coming Street Cemetery opened — and Charleston walked in.
Docents shared stories. Visitors explored headstones and history. Neighbors who had walked past these walls for years finally stepped inside. It was exactly what we hoped it would be.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Coming Street Cemetery Open House, and to the dedicated volunteers who bring these stories to life. The history here isn’t behind us — it’s beneath our feet and all around us. #RootsInTheGround
Did you miss it? Call the KKBE Office and book your private, docent-led tour today!
This morning, members of our KKBE community gathered at our Huguenin Avenue cemetery, guided by the Jewish principle of Kavod HaMet — respect for the dead. Headstones cleaned. Overgrowth cleared. Sidewalks made accessible again. We are grateful for every hand that showed up. Special thanks to Rabbi Rosen for making and delivering pancakes to the volunteers! 🪦 💪🏼
Our final spotlight in this series honoring the individuals buried at KKBE’s historic Coming Street Cemetery is Dr. Michael S. Kogan — a scholar, teacher, and lifelong student of theology whose work built bridges across faith traditions.
Dr. Kogan’s family roots in Charleston stretched back generations, with his direct ancestors arriving in the city in 1830. He earned a PhD in Religious Studies from Syracuse University and pursued postgraduate studies in philosophy at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. For 41 years, he taught at Montclair State University in New Jersey, specializing in Jewish and Christian theology.
Even after retiring and returning to Charleston, Dr. Kogan remained deeply committed to education, teaching adult Bible and theology courses at churches and synagogues throughout the community. His passion for learning and dialogue touched countless students and congregants across denominations.
His family history was also closely intertwined with Charleston Jewish life. His great-great-great-grandfather, Rabbi Hirsch Levin, was the founding rabbi of Congregation B’rith Sholom in 1852, and several of his ancestors served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Through scholarship, teaching, and community engagement, Dr. Michael S. Kogan carried Charleston’s rich Jewish history into the present day.
Join us for KKBE’s historic Coming Street Cemetery Open House on Sunday, June 14 from 1–3 PM to explore the stories of the extraordinary individuals buried there and the lasting impact they had on Charleston and beyond.
#rootsintheground #comingstreetstories
As we continue highlighting the remarkable individuals buried at KKBE’s historic Coming Street Cemetery, we recognize someone whose dedication ensured these stories would not be forgotten: Solomon Breibart.
Born in Charleston and educated at the College of Charleston, Breibart devoted his life to preserving and teaching the history of Charleston’s Jewish community. A respected historian and teacher, he authored books documenting Charleston Jewish history and helped safeguard the stories, traditions, and memories that connect generations.
Breibart cared deeply about KKBE and the historic Coming Street Cemetery, entrusting the congregation with the responsibility of preserving both the sacred grounds and the community’s history for the future. Much of what we know today about this cemetery and the people buried here comes from his tireless research and passion for historical preservation.
His legacy lives on every time these stories are shared.
Visit KKBE’s historic Coming Street Cemetery Open House on Sunday, June 14 from 1–3 PM to learn more about the people and histories that shaped Jewish Charleston.
#rootsintheground #comingstreetstories
