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