About Kolbo

Kolbo’s Proud History

Not just a store; part of the community.

For over forty years (Since 1978), Kolbo has been an integral and valued part of the Jewish community in New England; families have come here continuously over the years for important milestones in their lives — a child’s first tallit, their wedding ketubah, and their babies’ first Jewish books. Several of our staff members grew up coming to Kolbo and love the chance to offer the same care and service to the next generations.

“Since I was a young child,” writes Joanna Lubkin, “Kolbo has been a special place for me. My family would drive an hour to get here, and I always got a warm feeling when I walked through its door. I knew I would find beautiful Judaica that would inspire me to live my Judaism more fully. More than that: I knew that I would be seen and affirmed in an open, non-judgemental atmosphere. It means so much to me to pay it forward by contributing to a place where people feel accepted and valued.”

Since its founding, the gallery has been owned by three local families who contribute to the Boston Jewish community in various ways. Our current owners, Larry and Janet, are carrying forward a strong Kolbo legacy of commitment to Jewish culture, art in its various forms which bring beauty and meaning into our lives, quality service, and tikkun olam, efforts to repair the world. In addition to operating Kolbo, they both have long careers in social justice, law, and human services.

Think globally; act locally.

Kolbo’s owners also regularly travel to Israel and other parts of the world, exploring ancient and new Jewish communities, and looking to establish relationships with new vendors and artists. Their fascination with experiencing other cultures enables us to bring meaningful art and ritual items to Kolbo’s customers that strengthen Jews in the Diaspora’s connection to each other and to their Judaism. Kolbo has brought in handcrafted Judaica from as far as India, South Africa, Costa Rica, Haiti, Bali, and, of course, from throughout Israel. And we delight in finding beautiful jewelry crafted by Jewish artisans for Kolbo’s extensive jewelry collection. We also regularly partner with area synagogues and nonprofits to support their events and fundraisers.

Hand-curated selection.

We are passionate about offering the finest items to our customers from local artists, from Israel, and from around the world. Our Art Buyer, Dana (who is an artist herself!), has decades of experience and strong, collaborative relationships with numerous artists and vendors. These personal connections help us to bring an unparalleled selection of unique, high-quality pieces to you — in a wide range of styles, price ranges, and artistic media. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on our website, please give us a call or stop by the store. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we’ll do our best to work with you to find it.

Dedicated customer service.

From helping you pick out the perfect gift to supporting you in finding your dream ketubah, from answering questions about Jewish observance to talking with you about an artist’s technique, we, at Kolbo, are committed to welcoming you and helping you have an enjoyable and meaningful shopping experience.