I say without hesitation that Simchat Torah is my favorite holiday. How could it not be? Think about it: singing, dancing, celebrating, beginning anew, going from the solemnity of our holy season to a state of joy and hope. Simchat Torah is about finishing one reading cycle and beginning the...

We have finally reached the dramatic end of our fall High Holidays/Sukkot season. We begin the celebration of Sukkot on Wednesday evening, October 16. The Sukkot Holiday commemorates the temporary booths that the Israelites erected as shelters on the bank of the Sea of Reeds/Yam Suf, waiting for the splitting...

On Monday, we gathered as a community in prayer and listened to, Nova Festival Survivor, Matan Boltox (click here) share his experience of narrowly surviving the October 7th massacre. His story and presence inspired us. We carry with us the weight of remembering those lost and honoring the resilience of...

Moses is in the middle of his last address to the Israelite nation. He is aware of the conclusion of his life’s work and his imminent death. He tells the people: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Eternal your G-d: all the men of Israel; you children,...

I am absolutely loving how alive our synagogue feels right now! The sights and sounds of community life are in full bloom, and it’s such a joy to see. Over the last few months, we have been joined by some wonderful new groups—Tide Academy (an Orthodox Jewish school), Congregations of...

Over the last few months, I’ve been paying visits to SCI-Phoenix, the maximum security prison not far from KI. I go with a small group of volunteers to spend time with Jewish inmates. I generally lead discussions or Shabbat morning services during these visits. Most of the men in the...

Parashat Shoftim: Magistrates and Officials. New High Holy Day Songs. “Hush of Midnight” at KI and AJ Selichot Service: Saturday evening, September 28th The Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land after the completion of their 40 years of wandering in the desert. Moses presents his Third Discourse to...

KI Community Family Concerts continues its celebration of our 25th Anniversary! The 2024/25 Season opens on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 2PM with the Ruth G. Kahn Memorial Concert. The KI Music Arts Committee continues our exploration of the Golden Age of Broadway in our annual Broadway/Opera concert. This year...

This week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, begins with the verse: “See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse.” As we enter the Jewish month of Elul, a time of reflection before the High Holy Days, this verse serves as a reminder to “see” the choices we face on...

This week we announced our theme for the coming year, “My Heart is in the East.” The line comes from a poem written a millennium ago by Yehuda HaLevi, who spent most of his life in Spain. The poem speaks to his connection to the Land of Israel even from...