About Us

A warm & inclusive Conservative synagogue in Boston, focused on inspiring prayer and engaged learning for all ages.

Rooted in tradition yet innovative in practice, KI is a traditional, conservative shul in Brookline, MA at the inclusive center religiously and ideologically, that actively embraces individuals, our community, and the world.

With a century-long legacy as an innovative and prominent voice throughout North American Jewish life, we are approaching our next century through synergetic partnerships with other religious organizations, social, and community partners, like Congregation Mishkan Tefila, Yachad (National Jewish Council for Disabilities), 2Life (formerly Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly), Center Makor (Russian Jewish Educational Center), and many more.

As people are drifting into increased isolation in our society, KI is striving to make a place where we all belong; where you can create an ongoing, continuous relationship with other people.  Jewish communal life is not an episodic experience.

Our History

Congregation Kehillath Israel of Brookline, Massachusetts began in 1911 in the Brookline home of Mr. A. Matz to allow him to have a minyan to say Kaddish for his mother.  Over the next few years, they continued to meet in his home, then formalized, with 36 members, in 1915.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted the Synagogue a Charter in 1917, and land was then purchased in Brookline, Massachusetts for the development of the Synagogue and Hebrew School. The first High Holy Day services were held in the Synagogue in 1924, and in 1925 the building was formally dedicated with Rabbi Louis M. Epstein installed as Rabbi.

For our Centennial, a book of essays and photographs was compiled, titled “Kehillath Israel:  The First 100 Years.”

Our Future

As we approached the 100th anniversary of our founding, the KI community began looking inward at who we have been, who we are today, and who we want to be tomorrow.

We began with a series of house parties, followed by focus groups at the shul. We discussed what KI means, what our core strengths are, and took a realistic look at where we fall down. When the Pew Study (“A Portrait of Jewish Americans”) was published, we incorporated the questions it raised into our discussions.  We asked one another, what should a synagogue be for the next 100 years?

Our answer was the KI Next initiative, which included a complete restoration and renewal of our building and the innovative partnership model we have constructed.

Visit/Tour

Whether you would like to tour our new building or attend services and celebrations at KI, you are always welcome!

Service times for are listed on our home page, and events and times are shown on our calendar.  If you are coming for services, please introduce yourself to one of our greeters, who will make sure you are welcome and answer any questions.  For more information on our service, please check here.

If you would like to tour our space, please call the main office at 617-277-9155 or email us! If you would like to speak to one of our Rabbis, you can call the main office or email Rabbi Hamilton.

Facility Rentals

Many of the spaces at KI are available for rental, including our Sanctuary, social hall, and a number of classrooms for smaller meetings.

Rental fees vary with group size and discounts are available for members.  Please contact the main office at 617-277-9155 or email us to discuss your upcoming event and for details on availability, security guidelines, and other details.

Contact Us

Congregation Kehillath Israel

384 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA  02446
(617) 277-9155

Main office: mainoffice@congki.org

Office Hours:

9-5 Monday through Thursday
9-2 Friday

Interested in learning more about KI? Complete this form.