Congregation Kol Ami

About

Kol Ami means "Voice of My People." Congregation Kol Ami is an intimate & dynamic Reform synagogue in Elkins Park, PA.

Story

Our Name

Kol Ami means “Voice of My People” in Hebrew. Our congregation was founded in 1994 as a Reform synagogue with the goal of creating and sustaining an intimate and purposeful Jewish community. We are a spiritual community, committed to Judaism, to Israel and to each other.
Our Community

We are a small community by choice – a place where one’s presence matters and one’s absence is felt. Here, people know each other by name. Our size does not inhibit our vibrancy, but fortifies it, allowing for sustainable intimacy. Here, your child can expect a birthday call from the Rabbi each year, and you can expect one on significant birthdays and anniversaries. Here, there are no double Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, and each student studies one-on-one with Rabbi Holin every week during the six months prior to the service. Here, you can expect a warm welcome, whether you are a founding member or attending your very first Shabbat service.

Despite our size, we are surprisingly diverse, a welcoming home to a substantial number of young families, interfaith families, esteemed elders, empty nesters, singles and people of varied ethnicity. Members choose to join us from just down the street and across the Delaware River. This diversity supports a broad range of programming, including concerts, trips to Israel, educational speakers, art openings and a family camp weekend.

If you are not already a member, we hope that you will consider joining us and becoming a member of our dynamic community.
Reform Judaism

Kol Ami joined the Union for Reform Judaism in 2009, the umbrella organization for Reform synagogues throughout the United States and Canada. Reform Judaism opens the door to innovation, with respect for tradition, by viewing the Torah as a living document that enables us to confront the timeless and timely challenges of our everyday lives.

Central to Reform Judaism are belief in the Jewish responsibility to question; embrace of diversity; commitment to tikun olam – repairing the world through social justice programs; egalitarianism; and affirmation of the central tenets of Judaism – God, Torah and Israel.