Shabbat Service Friday, September 9 at 6:30 PM Join Rabbi Denise L. Eger and student Rabbi Frankie Salzman, with Lisa Edwards, our musical director and piano accompanist, for our services in-person at Kol Ami or online on our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or on thetemple website. To access a free online flipbook of our prayer book Mishkan Tefillah book, click here.
We are getting ready for our 30th High Holy Days! Our theme this year is Kadima:Forward. Rabbi Ross Levy and Cantor Patti Linsky and Rabbi Denise L. Eger look forward to welcoming you to our Temple building for the New Year 5783. All services for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur will be held at our Temple building. For more information visit our website.
Shabbat Holiness Hike with Rabbi Ross Levy Saturday, September 10, 2022 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Getty View Trail Address: 1399 Casiano Road Los Angeles, CA 90049
Take a break from the craziness of the week (and the city) and join Rabbi Levy for a Shabbat morning hike! We will explore some of the great natural settings around the LA area while creating spaces for quiet reflection and a bit of text study. All levels of hiking are welcome! In this year of sh’mita, the seventh year when the land lies fallow, we hope to explore our connection with the natural world as a source of healing and renewal (plan for 1.5 hrs). REGISTER HERE
Please join temple members Jane Drucker and David Glickman at The Book Circle on September 10th on zoom at 4pm as we discuss My Father’s Paradise: A Son’s Search for his family’s past.
National Book Critics Circle Award Winner for Autobiography: “A powerful story of the meaning of family and tradition inside a little-known culture” (San Francisco Chronicle).
Second Session: Sunday, September 11 ⋅ 10:00AM – 12:00PM
A Taste of Judaism is a three-session course offering a broad introduction to modern Jewish spirituality, values, and community. This online class is dynamic and interactive, and will be taught by our clergy, Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Rabbi Ross Levy, and Student Rabbi Franklyn Salzman. You don't have to be located in California to join us, and you don’t have to be Jewish to be curious. Click the link below—all are welcome!
The Heart of Many Chambers: Setting Intentions for Elul With Rabbi Levy
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - 9:30 - 10:00 AM
As we go through the month of Elul leading into the High Holidays, join Rabbi Levy for learning sessions streamed from our website, Facebook, and YouTube pages focusing on different "chambers" of the heart. The sessions will each focus on one aspect of our inner life and how that guides our connections with the world: chesed (loving-kindness), ometz (strength and resilience), chochmah (wisdom), and slicha (forgiveness). If you don't catch them live, be sure to check out the recordings posted on all three streaming platforms! Week 1 (August 31): The Heart of Many Chambers: Chesed ("Kindness") Source Sheet | Video Recording Week 2 (September 7): The Heart of Many Chambers: Ometz ("Strength" or "Resilience") Source Sheet | Video Recording Week 3 (September 14): The Heart of Many Chambers: Chochmah ("Wisdom") Week 4 (September 21): The Heart of Many Chambers: S'licha ("Forgiveness")
Selichot Service and performance by The Braid Theatre company of “Refused No More”
Saturday, September 17, 2022 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM We will start with dinner outside (bring your own dinner - drinks and dessert will be provided), followed by Havdalah, High Holy Days teaching in the Sanctuary with Rabbi Eger, Rabbi Levy, and Student Rabbi Frankie Salzman, and the Selichot Service on the Roof Deck.
REFUSED NO MORE We are thrilled to announce that the cast of Braid, formerly Jewish Women's Theatre, is to perform REFUSED NO MORE, in person during Selichot services.
Presented by the Braid: Refused No More is a true personal story of the Soviet Jew - the life left behind and the surprising, poignant, moving American journey being forged. Featuring a true to life story from one of our temple members, Lilia Lukowsky.
Help bring some Rosh Hashanah Sweetness to the Seniors of the LA LGBTQ Center. Kol Ami will celebrate the Jewish New Year with music and song and some New Year Noshes. RSVP to our Student Rabbi Frankie Salzman studentrabbi@kol-ami.org
The High Holy Days are only 4 weeks away and we are busy with preparations and rehearsals, hoping to create a wonderful spiritual experience, both for the in-person and the online services.
The deadline for becoming a sponsor or adding names to our Yizkor Scroll of Memory is Sept 29! Time is running out to honor your loved ones’ legacy in our Yizkor Scroll of Memory. This is an opportunity for you to memorialize beloved family and friends who have died. Each individual name entry is a $36 minimum contribution. A full-slide memorial is available for $136 which includes one digital photo. We are able to add your loved one(s) to the Scroll through 12:00 NOON on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Please note the deadline is earlier than in years past.The deadline is approaching so it's best to do it today!Honor your loved ones' memory here.
Rosh Hashanah Eve Sunday, September 25 4:00 PM In-Person at Kol Ami and online Register
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Monday, September 26 10:00 AM In-Person at Kol Ami and online Register Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Tuesday, September 27 10:00 AM In-Person at Kol Ami and online Register
Tashlich Saturday, October 1 10:30 AM at Will Rogers State Beach, Tower 10 In-Person Only Register Kol Nidre Tuesday, October 4 7:30 PM In-Person at Kol Ami and online Register
Yom Kippur Wednesday, October 5 In-Person and Online Register Yom Kippur AM Morning Service 10:00 AM In-Person at Kol Ami and online 12-Step Meeting 12:30 PM Family Service [Online Only] 1:00 PM 30th Anniversary Reflections 2:00 PM Register
Yom Kippur PM Torah Service (PM) 3:30 PM Healing Service 4:00 PM Yizkor Service 4:45 PM Neilah 5:15 PM Register Sukkot Sunday, October 9 7:00 PM Register Simchat Torah Sunday, October 16 6:30 PM Register Sukkot Yizkor Monday, October 17 at 8:00 PM At Temple Israel of Hollywood 7300 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046 Register
Saturday, October 1, 2022 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Come to Will Rogers State Beach on Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 AM for an in-person event of the New Year as we observe Tashlich together! Rabbi Eger and Rabbi Chaiken will greet you at Tower 10, just two lifeguard towers south of the parking lot entrance at Temescal Canyon Road and the PCH.
You can bring your own breadcrumbs as well, or the water-soluble paper included in your Kol Ami New Year’s Gift Box to cast away your sins and start fresh for the New Year. You can bring your copy of the Tashlich service (also included in your gift box)
Let the ocean air help you start fresh for the New Year!
Join Congregation Kol Ami as we welcome in the festival of Sukkot with a wonderful Moroccan-themed evening under our sukkah. We are excited to partner with JIMENA, an organization of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, for this event. We'll highlight the history and identity of North African Jewry and enjoy the evening with some backgammon and of course, welcoming in the holiday with kiddush. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, October 16, 2022 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Come and join Congregation Kol Ami for a joyous celebration of Simchat Torah!
This will be the final opportunity to enjoy the Kol Ami sukkah as we gather beneath its canopy to celebrate the joy of Torah and community.
To help us lift our hearts and spirits, we are thrilled to welcome back facilitator Diana Lynn Wallace, who will lead us in a drum circle using an assortment of drums, shakers, and other percussion instruments. Everyone will have the opportunity to participate and bring their unique sound to the celebration. We hope to see you there! REGISTER HERE
Congregation Kol Ami 30th Anniversary Trip to Israel May 30, 2023 - June 7, 2023
Join Rabbi Denise L. Eger on Kol Ami’s 30th anniversary trip to Israel! Explore the homeland of the Jewish people, its ancient history, and Israel’s vibrant modern sights and sounds.
Kol Ami’s friends and family will travel to Israel for an 8-day trip to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. Our trip begins in Jerusalem on May 30, 2023, winds our way north to the Galilee, and finally ending in the bustling city of Tel Aviv on July 7, 2023. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Congregation Kol Ami has adopted a Code of Ethics as a holy, respectful, mindful and safe way of interacting with one another. We join with other Reform Jewish communities dedicated to creating safe and sacred spaces. The Code of Ethics was created by a working Task force of our Board of Trustees, adopted by our Board and subsequently adopted by the congregation at our Annual meeting in June, 2022. You can view the Code of Ethics on our website at here.
Refuah Shleimah: A Speedy Recovery We keep the following members in our healing prayers: John Altschul, Richard Bernard, Murray Blank, Gail Ehrlich, Stephen Hochstein, Tim Jordan, Starlin Lemons, Heidi Kebbas, Peter Mackler, Michael Prince, Keith Rand, Ben Reback, Ivan Rosenberg, Lowell Selvin, Karen Shanbrom, Henry Somerfeld
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus that can make you sick. It is usually found outside the US, however, multiple cases of monkeypox have recently been reported in California and Los Angeles County.
How is monkeypox spread? Monkeypox can spread when a person has close contact with a person infected with monkeypox virus or when a person comes in contact with materials (e.g., bedding, towels) that are contaminated with the virus. The monkeypox virus can also spread from animals to people.
Kol Ami requires proof of vaccination including at least one booster for all events for all those eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. If you are not yet eligible for a booster, you must provide proof a negative test within 24 hrs of the event. While masks are optional at indoor events the Los Angeles County Health Department strongly recommends that you wear a mask indoors. At Kol Ami we are mindful that there are many people who are immune compromised and as an act of loving kindness (Chesed) and compassion (Rachamim) we recommend you wear a mask except when eating or drinking indoors.
To learn more about Kol Ami's COVID-safety policy please click here.
