Kehillat Israel Congregation

Story

Kehillat Israel or Congregation Kehillat Israel is a Reconstructionist synagogue located at 2014 Forest Road in Lansing, Michigan. KI was founded in 1970 by a small group of families who wished to create a fully participatory Jewish experience that would be rich in community and tradition, and to establish a superior religious school. In 1982, the congregation purchased and remodeled a Lansing public school building to house the growing membership. KI is located in southeast Lansing, Michigan, approximately two miles from Michigan State University. Its members, now numbering over one hundred twenty-five families, come from all around the greater Lansing areaReconstructionist AffiliationAfter 25 years as an independent congregation using the Conservative liturgy, KI affiliated with the Reconstructionist movement; and Rabbi Michael Zimmerman has served the congregation since 2003. As Reconstructionist Jews, KI has strong commitments both to tradition and to the search for contemporary meaning. KI strives for a Judaism that serves as a rich source of spiritual self-expression and moral challenge in the way lives are lived. All Jews are encouraged to enhance their own lives by reclaiming their shared heritage and becoming active participants in the building of the Jewish future.Since KI is a diverse community in observance and belief, two different siddurim (prayer books) are utilized for Shabbat: the Conservative siddur Sim Shalom and the Reconstructionist siddur Kol Haneshamah. They are used for services on alternate Saturday mornings. Services using either siddur tend to be somewhat traditional, albeit informal in nature. The services are conducted largely in Hebrew and are participatory in nature, with both men and women equally involved. Kol Haneshamah contains gender-neutral language, extensive transliteration, and a number of informative footnotes and commentaries. Sim Shalom, unlike Kol Haneshamah, concludes with a full musaf (supplemental service). In addition, there is a monthly Friday evening service that is more family oriented and the Kehillat Israel Religious School conducts periodic Shabbat morning services. Therefore, within the overarching framework of Reconstructionism, a variety of liturgical approaches or practices in Judaism are accommodated. At the same time, many social and cultural activities are multigenerational, enabling the congregation to interact as a more cohesive community.