WELCOME TO KI
Kehillat Israel, a Reconstructionist Congregation, is an inclusive, spiritual Jewish community that provides a warm, nurturing environment where we pray, learn, educate, and perpetuate Torah and Jewish values while serving the greater community.
MISSION STATEMENT
Kehillat Israel is an inclusive Jewish community, which honors diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds. Grounded in Jewish cultural and religious tradition, and guided by the core Reconstructionist principle to value both the wisdom of the past and the need for evolving belief and practice, KI seeks through prayer, learning and Tikkun Olam to create a sacred space in which its members of all ages may find meaning, purpose and joy.
HISTORY
In 1950 a small group of young Jewish people in Pacific Palisades were seeking a community with their fellow Jews and lovingly planted the first seed that would blossom and grow into Kehillat Israel.
Under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Abraham Winokur z”l, our founding rabbi, KI was first called “The Jewish Community of Pacific Palisades,” then “Congregation of Pacific Palisades (JCPP)” , “Kehillath Israel” and finally “Kehillat Israel” in keeping with the modern Hebrew pronunciation.
By the time Kehillat Israel reached nearly 400 families over 15 years ago, we had outgrown our old facility and the community responded by building our new, beautiful synagogue, facility which was dedicated on October 26, 1997. Since that time, we have more than doubled to over 1,000 diverse households representing all walks of life and a wide variety of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds.
Through it all we have strived to maintain that same atmosphere of warmth, caring and community that inspired those early members to create the KI we love.
