The idea of Kehillah was first explored in January 2008 when seven people met, looking for a way to create a more meaningful Jewish experience. As with many Jews, we knew in our hearts that there must be a better, more relevant way to practice Judaism. To us, Judaism is not a building or a stale routine, but very much vibrant and alive - and today’s Jewish institutions were not living up to their potential or fulfilling our needs.

Since we all have long-time relationships with Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman, it was clear from the beginning that she would be ideal as our spiritual leader and teacher. Rabbi Sharfman’s vision, experiences as a Rabbi, educator and keen observer of trends in Judaism would assure that Kehillah would be mainstream, but more in sync with Jewish needs and sensitivities in the twenty-first century.

In the earliest meetings held at Rabbi Sharfman's home, the founders discussed how and why Kehillah would be different from established temples and other congregations in the Valley. To guide our efforts, together we developed 18 Core Values to establish the ethical tone and provide structure and purpose to Kehillah's growth. On March 3, 2008, Kehillah of Arizona was incorporated.

One of the first challenges was to find a suitable meeting place for Kehillah. The founders did not want to own a building or be burdened with a building fund. What we wanted to build, instead, was a community.

After some traditional ‘wandering’, Kehillah entered into a relationship with New Vision Center in Scottsdale. New Vision (address & directions) is centrally located, has great parking, and offers a religiously neutral, comfortable sanctuary. When we gather with our Rabbi, our Torah, and our fellow Kehillah partners, this space becomes our own.

Today, Kehillah is a vibrant, participatory community. If you are interested or just curious, please explore our website. We hope you will become a partner in Kehillah and help us write our future history.