75th Anniversary Home Page

This year marks 13 years that Suburban Temple - Kol Ami has been led by Rabbi Allison Vann.  We are excited to be honoring her the weekend of April 12th.  Please joins us for Friday night services which will feature the music of Dan Nichols, followed by a lovely Shabbat dinner celebration honoring Rabbi Vann. Please click here to register.

Don't you just love Dan Nichols!  Can't get enough of Dan's music?  Join us on Saturday, April 13 at 7 p.m. for an amazing community concert! Only able to join us for Dan Nichols?  Please click here for tickets.

Thank you to Honorary Chair, Roe Green, Event Co-Chairs, Randi & David Nathenson, Committee members Ellyn Ross & Ellen Weber and 75th Anniversary Co-Chairs, Sara Stashower & Mark Heller

Dear Congregants of Suburban Temple-Kol Ami:

In spring of 1948, the climate in cities across the United States was complicated.
Anti-semitism remained a part of the landscape, and many American Jews were
balancing the difficult dynamic of assimilation and spiritual heritage.

That March, the founders of The Suburban Temple filed articles of intent and held the
first meeting of incorporation. They were Cleveland-area professionals across many
disciplines, though had yet to be accepted by leading organizations. They belonged to
several area synagogues, but sought a more fulfilling experience. They were brought
together by the desire to create a place for their children to grow up with a world view
of Judaism. After what was likely two or more years of planning, this group had a vision
for a post-World War II America, with a Jewish education and experience that was
relevant, accessible, and innovative.

A temple member, whose parents and grandparents were among the organizers, was a
small child when these talks were happening in the family’s living room:

“I was conscripted by my parents to open the door and take coats, when
meetings were at our house…A lot of people came, and it was a lot of coats. I didn't
understand all they discussed, but I knew it was a serious enterprise. Something
momentous was going on. It was kind of electric, the forming of Suburban Temple…”

Starting this spring, we will celebrate this impressive trajectory. We will trace the arc of
Reform Judaism in America, and the creation and current landscape of the State of
Israel as it, too, marks its 75th year. Just a month after the inaugural meeting of
incorporation of Suburban Temple, — in April 1948 — the State of Israel was founded.
Dreams for a modern Jewish homeland were realized.

We will hear from families of our temple’s founding members, from our past presidents,
from guest speakers and artists-in-residence. We will have books to read, picnics and
parties to attend — each with the imprimatur of what makes our congregation uniquely
us. And above all, we will celebrate!

For the many different reasons Suburban Temple may have been created, these tenets
have carried us through through the years: that anyone who wishes to participate in
Jewish life is welcomed; that each of us has a different way of expressing our Jewish
selves. Together as a community, we take pride in our temple of today, and we plan for
our temple of the future.

Our temple member continues:

“For my family, its a tremendous example of l’dor v'dor. Some of us at temple
follow an earlier generation; all of us welcome new generations. It’s the essence of what
it means to honor the past while building a future; exactly what it means to go from
strength to strength.”

Happy Birthday, Suburban Temple-Kol Ami!

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