Temple Kol Ami was chartered by the State of Florida in 1975, engaged as its first Rabbi, Dr. Sheldon J. Harr, in June of 1976, and joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now, the Union For Reform Judaism) in 1977. Since that time, the Temple has grown into a congregation numbering close to one thousand families.
The origins of the Temple were humble, with a handful of persons, prior to 1975, meeting in various locales in the City of Plantation. For three years, our Temple home was a double-wide trailer on Nob Hill Road. In 1977 we constructed our first multi-purpose building on Peters Road, on 7 1/2 acres of centrally located land in the heart of Broward County. In 1981, we built our Religious School Wing. Significantly adding to our facilities in 1988 with a magnificent new Sanctuary with permanent seating for 800 persons (and expanded room up to 1,300 for the High Holy Days and other occasions), we also were able to construct a smaller and less formal Chapel, refurbished Social Hall, Holocaust Memorial Garden, Judaica Shop, and Administrative Offices. In 1995 we constructed the 16,000 square foot Elizabeth Shoshanna Harr Education Center, adding another 15 classrooms and educational space to our Campus for Early Childhood, Day School and Religious School needs. In 1999 the Temple purchased an additional 5.35 acres, contiguous and east of our property. That enabled Temple Kol Ami to expand it’s Day School and Religious School facilities, building another 8 state-of-the-art classrooms, along with a Youth Lounge, Children’s Library, Adult Library, and other specialized educational space. On the new land we are able to provide recreational facilities for our schools and youth group programs with the construction of a new playground, regulation full-court basketball court, swimming pool, and cabana building, with land available for a soccer and softball field, plus additional parking. In 2008 we completed our new Early Childhood Center, attached to the main building and Chapel - a 23,000+ square foot state-of-the-art Early Childhood learning center. Gan Shalom, a meditative garden and outdoor study and prayer has also been added to our beautiful campus-like setting.
A vitally important aspect of our Temple’s history occurred in 2004, with the merger of Temple Emanu-El with Temple Kol Ami. Temple Emanu-El was Broward County’s historic Reform Congregation, founded in the 1930's. Unifying our strengths and melding our congregations, the Temples joined together to become Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El, thereby strengthening the Jewish Community in many different ways.
While we are proud of our growth and development, Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El has never lost focus of its primary purpose: serving its members and its community, creatively perpetuating Jewish life within the tradition of Reform Judaism, and supporting those programs and projects, within our Congregation and within our wider community which assist in meeting those goals.
Education remains a hallmark of Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El. Our Early Childhood Program, with a current enrollment of close to two hundred and thirty five children, superbly meets the needs of our youngest children and their parents, beginning with infants through age 5. Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El has the only URJ (Union For Reform Judaism) Synagogue-sponsored Elementary Division Day School in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, beginning in Kindergarten and extending through Fifth Grade. Our Religious School, with an enrollment of four hundred students in Kindergarten through the Senior Year of Judaica High School, teaches our children about their heritage in an exciting and creative manner. Adult Education is also a primary focus of our congregation, with a wide variety of different courses offered throughout the year.
The religious and spiritual experience at Kol Ami Emanu-El is enhanced by the beautiful setting in which we hold our services. Our magnificent Sanctuary sets an appropriate mood for worship and celebration, even as our smaller and less formal Chapel provides a more intimate setting. The full gamut of services, which, of course, mark all of the Holy Days, Festivals, and the Shabbat, are offered in a variety of ways, sometimes quite traditional and other times in a creative mode. Of course, our refurbished Ballroom / Social Hall and Reception Room provides the perfect setting for the celebration of simchas!
There are a myriad of affiliated organizations in our Temple, including Sisterhood/Women of Reform Judaism, Brotherhood, the Kol Ami Federation of Temple Youth/KAFTY, three Junior Youth Groups (MISTY, KATY, and KATONTY), the B.Z. Seniorhood, The Prime Timers, The Twenty-Thirty Something Group, Friends and Families, and the Parent / Teachers Organization (PTO). Many of our programs and projects, including our Liheyot Program for Physically and Emotionally Challenged / Special Needs Adults have won national recognition from the Union For Reform Judaism. Our Religious School as well is now providing a special track for special needs children.
Our Temple has flourished as professionals and lay leaders alike have worked in harmony to meet the goals we have set for ourselves. The Temple Board of Directors is lead by Jason Chalik, serving as President of the Congregation, with a Board of Directors representing the wide range of Temple members.
Our Senior Staff consists of men and women who are skilled and talented in their areas and many others, supported by a dedicated maintenance and administrative/secretarial and administrative staff. Dr. Sheldon J. Harr has been the Senior Rabbi of the Congregation since 1976. Rabbi Noah Chertkoff, our Assistant Rabbi completes the Rabbinic Staff and plays a very important role in our Congregation’s and Congregant’s lives. Our musical liturgy is beautifully chanted by another key member of our Clergy, Cantor Mark C. Goldman. Our Temple’s educational staff is lead by our Early Childhood Director, Norma Cahen; our Principal of the Elementary Division of our Day School, Toni Weissberg; and our Religious School Director, Simona Sklash. Rabbi Cheryl Jacobs, working with the Day School and the Religious School, as well as in Adult Education, is our Director of Jewish Education. Our Administrator and Director of Security is Dvir Weiss. Our Youth Group Director is Matt Jerome. Further, our wonderful maintenance and support staff is a central and vital adjunct to our mission - the creative perpetuation of Judaism.
Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El is proud of the leadership role it has assumed in Broward County and within the national movement of Reform Judaism as an active and participating member of the Union for Reform Judaism. Our Temple Family continues in its commitment to strengthening Jewish living within our own families and within our community. We look forward to a very exciting future!
Temple Kol Ami Emanu El | 8200 Peters Road
Plantation, FL 33324
| 954.472.1988
