“I want our community members to embrace me, their rabbi, as part of their wellness team, as a cheerleader, teacher, friend and co-worker in making our world a better, safer, and more compassionate place.”
Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg has served as Kol Ami's rabbi since 2014. Before coming to Kol Ami, she was an assistant rabbi and director of education at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue, Washington for 11 years. Rabbi Kinberg is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and a member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. She is involved with JStreet, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services, Faith Action Network, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and a variety of other organizations working towards peace, justice, sustainability, and interfaith connections.
Rabbi Kinberg loves working with people of all ages and stages. Children, elders, babies, teens... people who are in the midst of celebration and those who are in the midst of crisis. In addition to providing pastoral care for our members, She offers spiritual direction and small group classes for anyone who wants to study specific topics.
The rabbi can be reached by email or via Kol Ami's main telephone line at
425-844-1604.
RABBI
YOHANNA KINBERG
Shalom - Center your Jewish Life at Kol Ami
We are a welcoming and egalitarian Reform congregation of about 130 families located in Kirkland, WA. We nurture an atmosphere of openness and friendship, encouraging members of our community to plant or transplant Jewish roots. We welcome empty-nesters, LGBTQ individuals and families, interfaith families, Jews-by-choice, visitors, and anyone who's interested in discovering, rediscovering, or affirming Judaism.
We are guided by the URJ Sacred Partnership model in how we relate with each other,
our Board, Staff, and Rabbi. We focus on our responsibility to the shared goals and
common good of our congregation. We practice using the tools of respect, trust,
honesty, listening and communication, transparency, confidentiality, flexibility to build
and nurture those sacred partnerships. They all require a willingness from each person
to be vulnerable toward others.
If you have questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact a Kol Ami board
member.
MEET OUR
STAFF AND TEACHERS
DOROTHY KAHN
K - 1 Teacher
Dorothy (pictured here with George, her emotional support chicken) comes to us with decades of joyfully and successfully designing and running Jewish hands on family education programming and classroom experiences around the world. Having taught in multiple countries with communities ranging from micro to who could've even guessed that many people would show up; her engaging ideas have been recognized with many awards, but more importantly, have brought about a litany of community building engagement. Dorothy is thrilled to return to her role again this year with such an incredibly creative team committed to building and maintaining our sacred community.
MEAGAN PRINCE
Teacher, Grades 2-4 & Curriculum Development
Meagan Prince has a passion for elementary education and Jewish life. Her background in language acquisition (MS Ed, Western Oregon University, '08) and music education (BM Ed, Ithaca College, '03) are her foundation for multi-modal and hands-on learning. She's taught in schools across the USA, as well as in Europe and Asia. With two daughters of her own, Meagan regularly engages in the hows and whys of Jewish living. She sees Judaism as a set of threads running through the calendar of our lives, and strives to make it accessible at each child’s level of curiosity and ability.
J.J. BRADFORD
Administrator
Before relocating to WA in 2016, J.J., her husband Tim, and their now-grown daughter and son, Quincy & Canvas, lived in Norman, Oklahoma. There, J.J. owned an art and gift boutique for a period and held a position on the Board of the Norman Arts Council. She led their main fundraiser for four years and co-founded the Downtown Norman Fall Fest, which drew over 5,000 attendees annually. Despite their friends and active community involvement, the mountains called, and the Bradfords answered. J.J. treasures moments with her family and friends from book club. Her love of nature spans from towering peaks to the tiniest pebbles and all of the intricate details in-between. She loves music, games, crafting, and laughter, finding humor everywhere. While not of the Jewish faith, she embraces Tikkun Olam, showcasing it through creative event planning and engagement at Kol Ami.
MEET THE
BOARD
As Jewish leaders, what sets us apart from our counterparts in the secular world is that the goal of the partnerships we cultivate is to create a better world and to expand this notion of tikkun olam beyond what one individual can achieve.
If you have questions or conerns, you are welcome to a Kol Ami board member. Please email our admin for contact information.
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LINDA BOOKEY
Board President
Linda is a Program Manager who focuses on talent development, hiring processes, team culture and diversity and inclusion. Her recent work includes content and video creation for Microsoft highlighting the AI and Advanced Architectures team culture to quickly grow a team of hardware and software engineers.
Linda brings her social science and change management background to STEM outreach activities including gender and racial equity in K12 and higher education, human capital development and employee communications for tech and scientific companies. As an anthropologist, she’s passionate about creating healthy workplace culture for her clients.
Formerly CEO of Bookey Consulting, a woman owned company for over 20 years, her clients are included in the Who’s Who of top global companies and education entities, including Microsoft as a preferred vendor, Real Networks, ACM, BCS, NSF, Stanford, TechBA, Washington Wine Industry Foundation, ChemPoint and University of Washington. Collaborative, creative, and a strategic thinker, she enjoys building deep relationships, facilitating initiatives, and defusing difficult situations. She volunteers as a site visitor with WBENC to certify women-owned businesses. Past board service includes Temple B’nai Torah for 5 years, including as First Vice President and Washington State Jewish Historical Society for 5 years as VP.
JEFFREY GROSSMAN
Past President
Jeff and Vivian (z”l) moved from New York to Redmond in 2012 to be closer to their son and his family. They all became Kol Ami members soon thereafter and both grandsons became Bar Mitzvah at Kol Ami. Jeff is happily retired from a career in teaching and running a student travel business. This has allowed him to pursue his goal of studying Yiddish. He was instrumental in getting a Yiddish class in Seattle started in 2013, which grew into a series of classes over the years. He still attends two classes a week. Jeff became active at Kol Ami as a member of the Life and Legacy Team. In addition to his CKA Board membership, Jeff volunteers at the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle and is the Secretary of the Mt. Rainier Chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. Jeff enjoys hiking, pickleball, good food, and wordplay of all sorts.
ADAM SCHULMAN
Treasurer
Adam Schulman is currently Treasurer of Kol Ami and has been a member since 2019. Originally from New York, Adam, his wife Nicki and their two children relocated to the Seattle area from Chicago and found a welcoming community at Kol Ami.
Adam currently leads a global finance team at Boeing and is actively involved in a number of local non-profit organizations. He also enjoys long distance cycling, recently completing the 206 mile Seattle to Portland bike ride in one day.
RHONDA MARSHALL
Worship Chair & Past President
Rhonda and her family have lived in Kirkland since 2002—almost as long as they’ve been Kol Ami members. She’d love to meet for coffee, hear your ideas and concerns, and help you get more involved at Kol Ami.
PETER GUREVICH
Board Member
Peter Gurevich is a returning board member at large in the new term. He is a northwest native who grew up on Mercer Island. He is an avid card and board gamer and still meets regularly with his friends from high school to play games (At Zulus in downtown Bothell…)
Peter went to college at the University of Washington for a BS, MS, and Ph.D. and is working as a Principal TPM Manager at Microsoft in the Azure group. He has been at Microsoft for almost 23 years.
Peter lives in south Bothell with his wife Wendi. (And yes, they are always up for a Peter Pan reference… 😊)
Peter and his family have been involved in Kol Ami for the past 18 years. Rachel (23) and Nikoli (21) were raised and B'nai Mitzvah'd at Kol Ami and were very active in the religious school and KATY/NFTY through their late teens.
Past board service at Kol Ami include member at large, Chair of the Tikkun Olam committee, and Treasurer.
ROYCE ROBERTS
Board Secretary
Royce Roberts is married and has an adult daughter. He has lived in Kirkland for almost 30 years. Royce spent much of his career as a Public Defender, representing parents and children in dependency cases; Royce retired from law in 2021. Royce joined the Kol Ami Board looking to contribute to the long-term growth of the temple. Royce enjoys writing, travel, hiking, and learning.
BECCA FLORA
Board Member
Bio coming soon!
SCOTT SHURTLEFF
Board Member
Bio coming soon!