OUR COMMUNITY

T

emple Kol Ami is an intimate
Reform congregation in West
Bloomfield with roughly 250 mem-
ber families.
Daniel Mesa, TKA’s executive direc-
tor, says what makes TKA special is its
inclusiveness, its position as a
social action temple and the
well-roundedness in the activ-
ities it does.
“This year, eight new fam-
ilies joined. For our congre-
gation, that’s a huge number,”
Mesa said. “The biggest
reason they all said is they love the com-
munity feel. People come up and they talk.
There are not different types of groups;
everyone kind of belongs to one group
itself. They feel comfortable and belong
immediately.”
In 1966, eight founding families formed
“The New Temple,” a reform Jewish con-
gregation serving Metro Detroit with a
strong dedication to liberal Judaism, a
socially conscious philosophy, and a com-
mitment to Israel and the Jewish people. In
1970, the congregation adopted the name
Temple Kol Ami (Kol Ami means “Voice of
My People”).
Here’s a brief timeline:
• In 1975, under the leadership of Rabbi
Ernst Conrad and Music Director Nathalie
Conrad, TKA opened its own building —
one of the first Jewish organizations with a
building in West Bloomfield.
• In 1986, Rabbi Norman T. Roman
joined TKA as its second senior rabbi and
would hold that post for 30 years. Roman
became Rabbi Emeritus in 2016.
• In 2007, TKA broke ground on a new
wing to house the TKA Family Religious
School.
• In 2010, B’nai Israel Synagogue (BI),
a Conservative congregation down the

street, needed a new home. TKA and BI
leadership worked out an arrangement to
share TKA’s building. The two congrega-
tions often overlap when it comes to ser-
vices and programs.
• In 2012, TKA became a model in con-
gregation financing by eliminating dues
and launching a pledge system. Members
pledge the amount that works for them as
their annual financial commitment.
TKA has been running a food pantry
as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
since early July 2020. It started small with
just a few families and grew steadily. At
its height, it fed more than 90 families a
week. The pantry has worked in partner-
ship with Hazon, which collects the food
each week.
Originally intended to last two to three
months as a pop-up pantry, Mesa says the
pantry will continue indefinitely. “It really
makes a huge difference for people,” he
said.
“The Green Team” is an active piece of
the TKA Social Action Committee, initiat-
ing programs around recycling, sustainable
gardening, bioswales and more.
Mesa says TKA prides itself on their par-
ticipatory services and, starting next year,
will be offering more themed services.
TKA often takes services and their con-
gregation outside the temple for Havdalah
and has planned retreats in the future.
“What we’ve learned is you don’t nec-
essarily have to use the sanctuary just to
pray; you can pray wherever you are,” Mesa
said. “Your community can go anywhere.”
TKA started doing a talent show this
past year, with members of all ages getting
involved and engaged.
“We had kids all the way from 5 years
old to members who were in their 80s per-
forming,” Mesa said. “It’s about making
people feel comfortable in who they are

here and allowing people to practice their
Judaism however they want to practice it.”
TKA members take active and meaning-
ful roles at the congregation, whether their
interests lie in Torah study, weekly Shabbat
worship services, social action, religious
school for their children or adult Jewish
education, Mesa says.
“If you’re somebody who really just
wants to dive into what Judaism means
to you and be able to spread your wings,
you can dive into the different aspects of
Judaism and feel you’re getting something
from it,” Mesa said.
“We truly encourage people to come
experience what Temple Kol Ami is all
about.”

Prides itself on inclusiveness
and social action.

Temple Kol Ami

Daniel
Mesa

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

20 | MAY 5 • 2022

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

Volunteers at TKA food pantry