At Kol Ami, we believe that holidays are a time to connect—with tradition, with community, and with each other. Our celebrations are inclusive, meaningful, and designed for people of all ages and backgrounds. From reflective services to joyful gatherings, each holiday offers a chance to learn, engage, and create lasting memories together.
High Holidays
At Kol Ami, the High Holidays are a time for reflection, renewal, and meaningful connection with ourselves, our community, and the sacred. Our services, led by Rabbi Gilah Langner, lay leaders, and Kol Amite musicians performing original arrangements, are musical, participatory, and inclusive. Each year, we introduce new themes to inspire fresh reflection and engagement.
The High Holidays season includes Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah morning services, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur morning services. Families are welcomed through joyful, interactive, and age-appropriate children’s services. Our community also gathers for Tashlich in a local park and enjoys a communal Break-the-Fast after Neilah.
Most of our services are offered virtually, so members and visitors can participate from wherever they are. To learn more about the High Holidays or this year’s services, visit our High Holiday page.
Each year, Kol Ami builds a beautiful Sukkah and welcomes families to celebrate Sukkot together. We gather in the sukkah for a family-friendly program, enjoy the outdoors, and share a festive potluck meal, embracing the joy, gratitude, and impermanence that this holiday teaches.
On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle—and immediately begin again, continuing a tradition that has lasted millennia. We dance, sing, and rejoice with the Torah, followed by a lively potluck meal where our community comes together in celebration.
Kol Ami celebrates Hanukkah with joy, song, and light! We gather to kindle menorahs, sing festive songs, and enjoy latkes alongside a variety of veggie potluck dishes. Dreidel tables and crafts keep everyone entertained, while Rabbi Gilah leads programs, quiz shows, or Hanukkah-themed plays. Community members bring their own menorahs and candles, adding to the shared glow and celebration.
Often called the “Jewish New Year for Trees,” Tu B’Shevat at Kol Ami is a joyful celebration of nature, renewal, and the earth’s bounty. We honor the deep roots and wisdom of our tradition with a special seder, sampling fruits that represent the four Kabbalistic worlds and connecting with the rhythms of the natural world.
Kol Ami’s Purim celebration is a joyful mix of fun, tradition, and community! Our annual carnival features games and challenges for all ages, with teens and adults helping to run the booths. We gather to enjoy a Purim shpiel with Megillah excerpts, celebrating Esther’s courage, loyalty, and boldness. Costumes are encouraged, silliness is expected, and no Purim is complete without hamantaschen and light refreshments!
Join us for our popular Second Night Community Seder, open to the extended Kol Ami community. We retell the story of the Exodus, share traditional foods, sing songs, and engage in rituals that bring the story—and its lessons of freedom and resilience—to life. This joyful gathering is a chance to connect with community, celebrate tradition, and savor a festive meal together.
Kol Ami observes the full rhythm of the Jewish calendar with a variety of special gatherings. We celebrate Lag B’Omer with bonfires, study late into the night on Shavuot, and reflect together on Tisha B’Av with readings of Lamentations. Each occasion offers a chance to connect with tradition, community, and the seasons of Jewish life.
See all our upcoming holidays and services on our website calendar.
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