I am in awe that Rosh Hashanah and our new year are upon us this Wednesday evening. We had a wonderful wind up with our Elul study and our rooftop Selichot service this weekend. We prepared with a gorgeous letting go ceremony created by student rabbi CJ. I am so looking forward to our first High Holy Days together.
This Friday we will be gathering for two special programs. Cantor Nancy will be teaching her High Holy Day Bootcamp about the music of Yom Kippur on Friday Oct. 4th at 6pm. Immediately following at 7pm, join us for our first ever Shabbos Tish. Tish means table in yiddish. We will gather together on our rooftop around a shabbos table, recite some blessings, sing songs and tell stories, all while enjoying a light shabbos meal. We ask that you RSVP so we know how many people to expect and bring something vegetarian, or meat without dairy or pork or shellfish, to share (kosher style) side dish or dessert to share with the community.
May this new year of 5785 bring peace and joy to all of us. It will be incredibly joyous to be together and meet some of you for the first time in person. Please join us for this incredibly blessed season.
In the words of Alden Solovy we pray for pervasive peace. May it be your will, God of our fathers and mothers, that the year ahead bring pervasive and complete peace, on all the inhabitants of the earth, beyond all the dreams of humanity.
B'ahavah (with love), Rabbi Lindy Reznick
Senior Rabbi, Congregation Kol Ami.
Rosh Hashanah Eve
Wednesday, October 2 | 7:30 PM Join Rabbi Lindy Reznick, Cantor Mark Saltzman and our wonderful community for Rosh Hashanah Eve Services. Kol Ami Members shouldregister for their free tickets. Additional tickets, sponsorships and non-members tickets are available here. Click here to sign up to watch online.
Rosh Hashanah Day
Thursday, October 3 | 10:00 AM Rosh Hashanah Day Service, includes a Torah service. Please come and enjoy the new year with Rabbi Reznick, songleader Avishai Sol and the wonderful Kol Ami community. Kol Ami Members shouldregister for their free tickets. Additional tickets, sponsorships and non-members tickets are available here. Click here to sign up to watch online.
High Holy Day Bootcamp with Dr. Nancy Cohen Friday, October 4 | 6:00 PM Cantor Nancy Cohen's second installment of the class, teaching about High Holy Days customs, traditions and heritage. Join us in-person at Kol Ami or click here to sign up to watch online.
Shabbat Shuva: Shabbos Tisch
Friday, October 4 | 7:05 PM Shabbat Shuva is the sacred shabbat in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rabbi Reznick leads a Shabbos Tisch on the rooftop deck at Kol Ami. The word "tisch" is Yiddish for "table." The 'Shabbos Tisch' is special gathering around a table with light food, listening to D'vrei Torah, Nigunim and other storytelling. Registration for this event is mandatory. Learn more / RSVP
Come to Will Rogers State Beach to observe Tashlich, the casting away of our sins, together! Rabbi Reznick will greet you at Tower 10, just two lifeguard towers south of the parking lot entrance at Temescal Canyon Road and the PCH. . Bring your beach chair and umbrella, and breadcrumbs if you'd like.
(This event is free and in-person only. Registration is not required.)
Kol Nidrei (“All Vows”) is considered the most sacred prayer in Jewish tradition. It is the first communal prayer service of Yom Kippur. Kol Ami Members shouldregister for their free tickets. Additional tickets, sponsorships and non-members tickets are available here. Click here to sign up to watch online.
Yom Kippur Saturday, October 12
Rabbi Lindy Reznick, Cantor Mark Saltzman, and Avishai Sol will lead Yom Kippur services alongside talented musicians under the direction of Alin Melik-Adamyan.
Schedule: Morning Service 10:00 AM 12-Step Mtg [in-person] 1:00 PM Torah Study 1:00 PM Yizkor Service 3:30 PM Ne'ilah (Following Yizkor)
Kol Ami Members shouldregister for their free tickets. Additional tickets, sponsorships and non-members tickets are available here. Click here to sign up to watch online.
Join us for Congregation Kol Ami’s second intergenerational community-wide break fast at a private residence in Mid-Wilshire, following Yom Kippur services. The break fast will be catered, and is open to all Kol Ami members, guests, friends, and the community at large. Our inaugural community break fast last year was a fantastic event and one of the best attended events of the year, don’t miss it this year!
Tickets are available for a minimum donation of $25 until October 4.
After October 4, and at the door, tickets will be a minimum donation of $36.
While the actual cost of this event is over $25 per person, several members of the community have generously offered to subsidize ticket prices to help bring the entire community together. If the ticket price is a barrier to you attending, please contact membership@kol-ami.org as additional assistance is available.
A Year After October 7: Reclaiming the Humanist Legacy of Zionism
Sunday, October | 4:00 PM | UCLA
The UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies is pleased to invite you and the members of Congregation Kol Ami to attend our in-person event, "A Year After October 7: Reclaiming the Humanist Legacy of Zionism," presented by Fania Oz-Salzberger, Professor Emerita of History at the University of Haifa.
The event will be held at UCLA on Sunday, October 6th, from 4:00–5:30 PM. You can learn more and RSVP here
A Talk With Shai De Luca Wednesday, October 9 | 7:00 PM Long before the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 Interior Designer and TV personality Shai DeLuca was a tireless supporter, educator and advocate using his platform to combat Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism around the world. Since the attacks, many of our community members ask ‘what can we do?’ Join us for an inspiring conversation with Shai about the far greater importance that these forms of advocacy represent. More Information
Sangria in the Sukkah Saturday, October 19 | 7:00 PM
The Open Yad Project is hosting its annual Sangria in the Sukkah event on Saturday, October 19! Come enjoy some Jewish learning, an abundance of sangria, and a night of karaoke with other Jewish/Jew-ish folks in their 20's & 30's! Click for more information and to sign up
Shabbat Service Friday, October 18 | 7:05 PM Join Rabbi Reznick and piano accompanist Lisa Edwards in-person at Kol Ami or online on our YouTube channelor on our temple website. Purchase a prayerbook, Mishkan Tefillah, available inprint or inkindle versions.
We keep the following members in our healing prayers: Aaron Aronow, Michael Becker, Bryce Linsenmayer, Andrew Ogilvie, Ivan Rosenberg, Richard Ross, Lowell Selvin, Miles Senn,Henry Somerfeld, Steve Weiss, Gib Winebar
