Temple Kol Ami Prepares for In-Person High Holiday Services

Charlotte Jewish News September 2021

By Shari Baum

As another busy summer draws to an end, Temple Kol Ami (TKA) of Fort Mill, South Carolina, is about to get even busier. It is time to get back to shul and back to school at TKA! At the time of this writing, we are planning to have in-person religious school as well as High Holiday services.

After a year of virtual learning, TKA Religious School (TKARS) is excited to be back in person. Our amazing religious school teachers are excited to be back into the classroom with our students. TKARS is the only religious school in York County serving students all the way from preschool through their B’nei Mitzvah. Our students begin learning Hebrew and Judaica starting in our preschool Torah Tots program and continue to build each year. Is your child ready for Hebrew School? No matter where they are on their path of Jewish learning, we can accommodate their needs and get them up to speed. TKARS meets three Sundays per month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Walnut Grove Christian School in Fort Mill, conveniently located in the Greater York County & South Charlotte areas.

It is not too late to register your child for the 2021-2022 school year, which officially started on August 29. For more information please contact us at tka.religiousschool@gmail.com or go to the website www.templekolamisc.org. Per CDC recommendations, students and teachers will be masking at Religious School, and our small classes lend themselves to social distancing.

In addition to the start of Religious School, Temple Kol Ami is eagerly anticipating the High Holidays. We will conduct full services in person at Philadelphia United Methodist Church in Fort Mill and offering services on Zoom. Masking will be required during all services for congregants ages two and up. We are thrilled to be led this year by Rabbi Bruce Aft and cantorial soloist Sara Sherman. Rabbi Aft is a wonderfully engaging clergyperson who has spent many Shabbats with Temple Kol Ami in the past. He recently retired from Congregation Adat Reyim of Springfield, Virginia, after 29 years of service. Rabbi Aft is currently a visiting scholar at George Mason University in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. He is also the president of the community board for Operation Understanding DC. A huge baseball fan (and former college player), he and his wife, Sue, will volunteer for the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. We are looking forward to very meaningful and spiritually uplifting High Holidays under Rabbi Aft’s leadership, along with Sara’s beautiful voice. Services are free for TKA members, college students, and active duty military. Tickets are available to non-members for purchase. Please contact us at yorksynagogue@gmail.com or (803) 701-0149 for more information, or check our website www.templekolamisc.org

Schedule for High Holiday services is as follows: Erev Rosh Hashanah , September 6 , 7:30 p.m.; Junior Congregation Service, Sept 7, 9 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah, Sept 7, 10 a.m.; Kol Nidre, Sept 15, 7:30 p.m.; YK Junior Congregation Service, Sept 16, 9 a.m.; Yom Kippur, Sept 16, 10 a.m.; Neilah, Sept 16, 4 p.m. Yizkor will begin immediately at the end of morning service and is free and open to the public.

If you live in York County or the Ballantyne area, Temple Kol Ami might be the place for you! We are a warm and inclusive Reform congregation comprising Jews from diverse backgrounds. We hope you will join us soon and find your Jewish home in our community.