Starting on Tuesday evening, July 21st, we will gather in a series of six Zoom meetings to discuss Rabbi Alan Lew's guidebook to the High Holidays, from Tisha B'Av through Sukkot. Join us for 45-minute discussions and meditation on each of the steps in this ancient journey of transformation. On September 1st, Ruth Anne Faust will lead a discussion on Chapters 5 & 6 (Selichot & Rosh Hashanah).
Join us for a Shabbat Service led by Herb Levy and Leslie Lesner. We'll wrestle with the parsha Ki Tavo, which, among other things, instructs us to offer our first fruits when we enter the Promised Land, Enlightenment. We'll wrestle with the distance we may be feeling with the present pandemic and the intimate connection of Enlightenment. Is it possible to experience spiritual growth while we distance ourselves? Click the above event link for the service handout as we will not be using the traditional Siddur.
Our Zoom services are open to the broader community. Please email Coordinator@KolAmiVirginia for more information.
Pizza and Talmud is a class/weekly dinner and conversation for those in our community from post-bat/bar mitzvah age until college age. Pizza and Talmud has returned to in person learning- outdoors with Covid precautions in place. New teenagers are welcome to join any time, whether you just want to check us out or consider coming regularly. If there are questions, please feel free to send an email to .
Thinking ahead to High Holidays, It can be challenging to feel spiritual sitting in front of a computer screen on Zoom, in our offices or kitchens. Join us for this workshop on how to create a sacred space for prayer in your own home, using photographs, quotations, fabric, artwork, and memorabilia that will connect you to your loved ones and your own deepest self. Led by chaplain David Balto and Qi Gong teacher Eve Soldinger, hosted by Rabbi Gilah Langner.
Our Tot Shabbat services with Morah Andrea have moved to Zoom but are still filled with story and song and connection to Jewish Community. Join her two Saturdays a month for some rhythm and ruach. Our virtual services are open to the wider community, please click the above event link to join our Tot Shabbat mailing list and to print our Tot Shabbat postcard.
Join us on the evening of September 12th for Selichot as we discuss Ibram X. Kendi’s book, How to Be an AntiRacist, as we attempt to move forward as allies of the movement to uphold the truth that Black lives matter. Click on the above event link for more information.
Our book discussions are open to the wider community.
Email for registration information.
Welcome to a new year of our Jewish Children's Education Program! We will welcome both new and returning families and go over some nuts and bolts for the new school year. Then, students will report to their virtual classrooms for the first day of class!
Pizza and Talmud is a class/weekly dinner and conversation for those in our community from post-bat/bar mitzvah age until college age. Pizza and Talmud has returned to in person learning- outdoors with Covid precautions in place. New teenagers are welcome to join any time, whether you just want to check us out or consider coming regularly. If there are questions, please feel free to send an email to .
Starting on Tuesday evening, July 21st, we will gather in a series of six Zoom meetings to discuss Rabbi Alan Lew's guidebook to the High Holidays, from Tisha B'Av through Sukkot. Join us for 45-minute discussions and meditation on each of the steps in this ancient journey of transformation. On September 15th, Mattie Cohan will lead a discussion on Chapters 7 & 8 (10 Days of Awe and Kol Nidre).
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. Join chef Susan Barocas to explore the history, blessings and foods of the Seder with the option of cooking along as Susan demonstrates making several dishes.
Kol Ami and Shirat HaNefesh will come together for an Erev Rosh Hashanah service led by Rabbi Gilah Langner and Hazzan Ramón Tasat. The music will be a combination of Ashkenazi and Sephardi melodies, with traditions from across the world blended together. Rabbi Gilah will be speaking about the theme of our High Holidays this year, Zochreinu l'Chayim, Remember Us for Life. Join us for a warm entry point into the Days of Awe, sharing this unique High Holidays on Zoom -- a once-only experience, we hope, which we will make as beautiful and engaging as possible!
This service is part of Kol Ami's larger High Holiday programming. Please click the above event link for registration information.
Join Kol Ami for our Rosh Hashanah Day service led by Rabbi Gilah Langner, Mike Jawer, and Jim North. The service will be framed around the three great themes of Rosh Hashanah: majesty, memory, and mission. We invite kids of all ages to come together for the blowing of the Shofar from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m.
This service is part of Kol Ami's larger High Holiday programming. Please click the above event link for registration information.
Kol Ami will host two Zoom based Rosh Hashanah services for children according to the following schedule:
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for children seven and under and a trusted adult.
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. for children 8-12 and a trusted adult.
A virtual schmooze will take place following each service.
All are welcome to then join the Shofar service at 12:15 p.m.
Join Kol Ami for a Shofar service for the whole family from 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m led by Mike Jawer and Rabbi Gilah Langner. This is part of our larger high holiday programming schedule. Please click the above event link for registration information.
In person Tashlich will take place at Alcova Heights Park, by reservation only. Limited time slots remain. You can sign up as part of the high holiday registration process at the above event link. We will be physically distanced along both sides of the stream (NOT on the bridge). Please bring bread or crackers to use for Tashlich. Led by Rabbi Gilah Langner and Herb Levy
There is also a printable handout which will be emailed to those registered for Tashlich ahead of time, as well as included in the weekly member newsletter.
Pizza and Talmud is a class/weekly dinner and conversation for those in our community from post-bat/bar mitzvah age until college age. Pizza and Talmud has returned to in person learning- outdoors with Covid precautions in place. New teenagers are welcome to join any time, whether you just want to check us out or consider coming regularly. If there are questions, please feel free to send an email to .
Starting on Tuesday evening, July 21st, we will gather in a series of six Zoom meetings to discuss Rabbi Alan Lew's guidebook to the High Holidays, from Tisha B'Av through Sukkot. Join us for 45-minute discussions and meditation on each of the steps in this ancient journey of transformation. On September 22nd, Jason Weiss and Elizabeth Greene will lead a discussion on Chapters 9 & 10 (Yom Kippur).
Join Michael Jawer and Susan Freiband for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, September 25 from 7:30-8:30 pm. This is the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as Shabbat Shuvah. There’s an extra emphasis on turning (“shuv”) toward repentence and forgiveness, and we’ll feature some especially relevant poems and readings. Click the above link to see the service handout.
Our Zoom services are open to the broader community. Please email for the Zoom link.
The Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuvah, or the Shabbat of Return. Kol Ami will join with Shirat HaNefesh for a Shabbat Shuvah service led by Rabbi Gilah Langner, with guest speaker Rabbi Bruce Aft on the subject of Forgiving and Remembering.
Our Shabbat services are open to the broader community. To receive the Zoom link, email .
The most solemn service of the year, Kol Nidre will be co-led this year by Rabbi Gilah Langner, Herb Levy, and Jim North. With Zoom as our medium, we will be davening/praying from a beautiful series of slides prepared by Bayit/Building Jewish, which should make the liturgy more accessible than ever before. Join us for an evening of beautiful song, heartfelt prayer, and reflections on Teshuvah and Racial Justice by Rabbi Gilah.
Pizza and Talmud is a class/weekly dinner and conversation for those in our community from post-bat/bar mitzvah age until college age. Pizza and Talmud has returned to in person learning- outdoors with Covid precautions in place. New teenagers are welcome to join any time, whether you just want to check us out or consider coming regularly. If there are questions, please feel free to send an email to .
Kol Ami will host two children's services for Yom Kippur according to the following schedule:
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for families with children six and under.
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. for families with children seven to 12.
Stay tuned for more information and registration instructions!
From Meditation to Text Study, there's something for everyone on Yom Kippur afternoon but you must be a registered High Holiday participant to sign up. Click the above event link for registration information.
This week, Rabbi Gilah will be leading our Shabbat Sukkot service at Kol Ami. We will be davening a joyous Hallel, waving the lulav and etrog, praying to be saved ("Hosha Na! -- the origin of the word "hosanna"). We'll also engage in text study, learning and discussing how our rabbis urged Jews to respond to plagues and other catastrophes in different times and places.
Our Tot Shabbat services with Morah Andrea have moved to Zoom but are still filled with story and song and connection to Jewish Community. Join her two Saturdays a month for some rhythm and ruach. Our virtual services are open to the wider community, please click the above event link to join our Tot Shabbat mailing list and to print our Tot Shabbat postcard.