Welcome to Temple Kol Ami

Kol Ami means “All My People”. Temple Kol Ami of Fort Mill, SC is a Reform synagogue that strives to be a voice for the diverse Jewish community of Greater York County, SC and South Charlotte, welcoming families and individuals from all walks of Jewish life. We are a warm and inclusive congregation comprised of Jews from more traditional backgrounds, interfaith couples and families as well as those who may be rediscovering their  faith.  As a community we celebrate and embrace the joys of Judaism through ritual, culture and religious education. We are proud of our thriving Religious School, the largest in York County!

Join us for Shabbat service the first and third Friday of every month. E-mail us at yorksynagogue@gmail.com for address. 

***PLEASE NOTE: Although we generally follow the 1st/3rd Friday schedule, there may occasionally be a change to the Shabbat service schedule. Please check our Temple calendar for dates of upcoming services. In November, our services are on Nov 8th and 22nd***

MEET OUR CLERGY LEADERSHIP: RABBI BRUCE AFT AND CANTOR MARY REBECCA THOMAS

Rabbi Bruce Aft

 
Rabbi Bruce Aft has served as an associate Rabbi and consultant for Temple Kol Ami since 2018.  He has conducted High Holiday services each year as well as  leading  periodic Shabbat, holiday, and B’nai Mitzvah services.  He has helped to inspire our congregation during both joyous and difficult times with his timely and impactful messages.
 
Rabbi Aft grew up in the Chicago suburbs where he developed a love of Judaism and baseball.  He obtained a MSW from Temple University in Philadelphia, was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and also earned an honorary doctor of divinity in 2006.  From 1991 until his “retirement” in 2020 he was the spiritual leader at Adat Reyim in Springfield, VA.  Currently, in addition to his work with Temple Kol Ami, he is a visiting scholar and adjunct professor at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.  Rabbi Aft and his wife, Sue, have 4 children and 6 grandchildren.  He remains an ardent Chicago White Sox fan and enjoys incorporating pop music lyrics in his sermons.
 
Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas
 
 
Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas was ordained in 2011 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Cantor Thomas is currently the Director of Placement for the American Conference of Cantors and previously served Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC from 2011-2023. While at HUC-JIR, Mary was awarded academic prizes in Jewish religious thought, composition, creative worship leadership, and significant contributions to the school community. She served as Cantorial Intern at Union Temple of Brooklyn and Temple Israel of New Rochelle. Mary completed her Cantorial Thesis, “Inward, Outward, and Upward: The Postmodern Shaliach Tzibbur,” in which she applies the theology of Rabbi Eugene Borowitz to prayer leadership. She completed her undergraduate work in History and Jewish Studies at Rutgers University, graduating with honors. Cantor Thomas was instrumental in establishing The Porch, Temple Beth El’s Young Adults and Families with Young Children Community. She is the co-author of a chapter in The Sacred Calling: 40 Years of Women in the Rabbinate. She has served on the Board of MeckMIN, chaired the professional development committee for the ACC, and served on the ACC Executive Board and Officer Team. She is passionate about Jewish history, music, worship, and helping to build the community within which people can lead meaningful fulfilling lives, engaged in Jewish tradition. Cantor Thomas is wife to Matthew and mom to Johannah and Ezra. In her spare time, she enjoys performing in local musical theater.
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Temple Kol Ami is excited to share the news that we have been awarded a local agency allocation from the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte.  With this funding, we will continue to strengthen our community through rabbinic leadership, Jewish cultural programming and religious education. TKA is so grateful to the JFGC for their continued support of our congregation as well as the Greater York County Jewish community. Please contribute to the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, an incredible organization that does amazing work both locally and around the world!!