Started in a couple’s living room, Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community is now celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Rabbi Gilah Langner and the community commemorated this milestone with a celebratory Shabbat service and musical performance on May 17 and 18, chaired by Jane Schulman.
“It felt like a true celebration of a big milestone for this small congregation that started in the living room of some of our members with a group of about three couples and [grew] into this really lovely congregation of about 100-plus households,” Langner said.
She added that Kol Ami’s membership was about half that when she joined nine years ago.
The Kol Ami community, which shares space with Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, is home to the “gentlest Hebrew school in the world” lay-taught by Kol Ami parents, according to Langner.
The synagogue has since expanded both children and adult education — the late Rabbi Richard Ruth led two weekly Talmud courses. Through adult b’nai mitzvah celebrations, participating in services and preparing to lead services themselves, adults gained skills and knowledge.
“I’ve seen people at Kol Ami who started out with little or no Jewish education, and have become quite educated,” Rabbi Emerita Leila Gal Berner told Dr. Zachary Schrag, who recently compiled a 17-page history of Kol Ami.
During the pandemic, the Kol Ami community held a virtual morning minyan four days a week.
“Zoom really made that possible because we’re quite scattered over a large part of Virginia,” Langner said, adding that many members live in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax and might not have time to commute to shul in the mornings.
“It’s been five years and we are still going strong,” Langner said. “That’s a source of great pride for the congregation.”
Morning minyan has served as a place for congregants to share news, talk about ups and downs in their lives and participate in a “spiritual boost” to start off the day.
“It’s very special to us,” Langner said.
Music is another avenue that distinguishes Kol Ami. The Kol Amites, a resident musical ensemble, performs during High Holidays and special occasions including b’nai mitzvah.
“We have some very musical families, some professional musicians and folks who do music very seriously on the side, and their kids also study music,” Langner said. “During their high school years, we have kids joining the Kol Amites and playing alongside their parents, and it’s just an incredibly uplifting, inspiring thing to see.”
The celebratory weekend had no shortage of live music, from klezmer to country and modern hits that turned into a sing-along. Fiddler Eddie Dickerson and Jackie Wright were the event’s performing artists.
“There was klezmer music and there were American classics and it just reflected who we are,” Langner said. “It’s very proudly Jewish and American, kind of a blend of all different kinds of music.”
At one point, attendees formed a large circle and swayed together as they sang “Stand by Me.” Hazzan Jim North led members in singing a melody about Kol Ami to the tune of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Attendees also heard from Rabbi Emerita Berner and Rabbi Bruce Aft, a Kol Ami member, in a panel discussion. Berner talked about Kol Ami’s humble beginnings and how the community has grown over the past quarter-century.
“Rabbi Bruce said something that really stuck with me about one word used to associate with our services and our community, and that word was ‘integrity,’” Langner said. “You can bring your whole mind, heart and soul into this community. You don’t have to feel torn [between] Jewish life [and] secular life. You should feel like you’re living with integrity and living Judaism with integrity as well.”
After the panel discussion, attendees had the opportunity to share their thoughts, reminisce on Kol Ami’s history or speak to their visions for the community’s future. Sunday’s musical performances and the festivities reflected the celebration’s upbeat, cheerful atmosphere.
“We put the world on hold this weekend and allow[ed] ourselves to experience the joy of this milestone,” Langner said.
