We are a welcoming, egalitarian community dedicated to promoting Jewish life in the Pacific Northwest. We love Jewish history and tradition, and we are carrying on the 4000-year-old story of the Jewish people by building tradition and history of our own. We cultivate awe and gratitude for the bounteous planet we call home, and reverence for the bonds we share with the creatures who share it with us. We passionately affirm the dignity and rights of all human beings. We view it as our sacred obligation to pursue justice and repair the world.
We also take the Jewish tradition of wrestling with Torah and truth seriously. We are not afraid of hard questions, snark, politics, irreverence, or venturing into uncharted territory.
Judaism was built to resist tyrants, care for the vulnerable, and help us experience joy, health, and abundant life even during the most chaotic and troubled times. That's the sort of holiness we practice.
JEWISH COMMUNITY
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
KOL AMI NEWS
LEARNING
Jewish education isn’t a list of answers. It’s not a chunk of history. Jewish education is a toolbox, with 4000 years’ worth of
resources and wisdom inside.
From the Talmudic rabbis, we learn logical rigor and how to move from principle to action. The Hasidic masters of Europe teach us how to find joy even in dark times. Modern Jewish scientists and ethicists model intellectual fearlessness that keeps compassion and humanity at the center of exploration. Jewish thinkers from all times show us how to respond to life’s triumphs and challenges with humor, wit, courage, and love. Judaism teaches us to be comfortable with ambiguity, because growth, joy, and wonder are found outside our comfort zones.
Jewish literacy also ensures we know we’re not alone when we’re dealing with thorny questions--that across the world, and across the millennia, other Jews stand with us, confronting the same questions and offering different perspectives and approaches. Each of us is a letter in a scroll that is still being written.
Jewish education ensures we have all the resources of our tradition and the wisdom of our ancestors at hand as we navigate life and march forward into the future.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Kol Ami’s youth education program is rooted in the belief that Judaism is to be experienced, not simply taught. Our goal is to provide our youth with exposure to many aspects of Jewish life, as well as the skills and tools provided by our tradition. We strive to create a quality experience which combines hands-on Jewish experi- ences and Jewish ritual skill building. From learning the four questions for Passover to basic Hebrew decoding skills, and from Jewish art education through exploring the Jewish world through cooking, Kol Ami delivers positive, creative, inspired Jewish identity formation, cultural breadth, and religious exposure.
B'NEI
MITZVAH
Weekly Hebrew with private tutors and monthly meetings with Rabbi Kinberg.
YOUTH
GROUP
Our youth group participates in NFTY Northwest.
NFTY is a movement that builds strong, welcoming, inspired communities through teen-powered engagement. Together, we pursue tikkun olam, personal growth, youth empowerment, and deep connections, all rooted in Reform Judaism. NFTY’s Northwest region includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska, as well as the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
TORAH
STUDY
Our Torah study group is the vibrant heart of our Shabbat morning practice.
With Hebrew-speaking veterans and beginners engaging with the text for the first time, and everything in between, discussion often touches on the Torah text, current events, Jewish thinkers, current events, pop culture, and more.
We meet on Saturday mornings, have some coffee/tea and donuts to help wake us up, and dive in.
ADULT PROGRAMS
Our adult and family programming provides a wide range of activities and learning opportunities for everyone from people new to Judaism or formal Jewish practice to advanced students.
JEWISH HERITAGE
OPEN YESHIVA
HAVDALAH CAFE
SENIOR SCHMOOZE
SUPPORT KOL AMI
The generosity of people who believe in supporting Jewish community in the Seattle area helps Kol Ami provide the programming and services of a much larger congregation.
Please check out the different ways you can support us below.