You may also donate on Venmo (memo line: HHD)

Dear KI Congregants,

Shanah Tovah! I wish you a sweet new year filled with good health, love, and peace.

Thank you for all you’ve done this year and in years past for our Congregation. 

We hope you will join with us throughout this important season as we come together to mark the holy days that have long been so important to our people. We are writing today to again ask for your support. Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel remains a place of Jewish learning, Jewish life and Jewish community. 

As we prepare to mark 180 years, we continue to pride ourselves on our commitment to social justice, Jewish values and ongoing innovation. As much as ever, providing a safe haven for our families feels imperative. We are doing just that through robust programming, courses, worship opportunities and points of connection. With antisemitism increasing by the day, KI remains a place of security, a place of warmth and protection amid the ugliness of bigotry and prejudice.  

Additionally, please join us in defending Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish homeland and speaking truth to power about the myths floating around everyday masking as antisemitism. Regardless of our feelings about the Israeli government currently in power, Israel remains at the heart of the Jewish people, as it has for centuries. At KI, our commitment to a democratic, inclusive Israel is unwavering!

You can support our staff and clergy in this flourishing work with our youth, families, seniors, and all Congregants by donating below.

Some happenings in the last year include:

1. Hired a new engagement coordinator, Elyse Herman to act as the glue between the pre-school, our religious school and the congregation at large. Elyse is bringing structure and accountability to our engagement process. We are so excited Elyse joined our team!
2. As we are turning 180 this year, there are a TON of exciting new programs for us to celebrate together. There will be a timeline in the lobby. Our theme is Hineini, Meet the moment! You will be hearing a lot about that through future correspondence.
3. Our pre-school is at CAPACITY! 170 students to start the year!
4. Our kindergarten has 21 students, an amazing increase from 3 from last year!
5. Our affinity and support groups, Jews of color, Queer KI, C2C, cancer support group continue to fight loneliness and promote the values of KI

You can support our growing list of initiatives to push back on the hate/divisiveness we see and experience too often in our society; affirming the values that KI holds so dearly, respect of all points of view. 

The High Holy Days offer an opportunity for you to contribute to KI to allow us to continue our critical work building community, caring for those in need, and providing meaningful opportunities to worship as a Congregation.

Will you commit in these inspiring high holidays to contribute to our growing community for the high holiday drive? Our future is being written now, and I encourage all of you to contribute in a way that is meaningful and comfortable. 

Thank you for all you do for KI and for donating to our HHD Appeal to build organizational capacity.

Shanah Tovah!

Ryan Perlman, President KI