Kehilla Community Synagogue

What Kehilla Community Synagogue does

Kehilla Community Synagogue is a progressive, non-profit Jewish congregation founded in 1984 by Rabbi Burt Jacobson, originally in Berkeley and now operating from a single facility at 1300 Grand Avenue in Piedmont, California. It serves Jewish individuals, families, and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area through Shabbat and High Holy Days services (in-person, virtual, and multi-access), lifecycle observances (brit milah, baby namings, bar/bat mitzvah, weddings, funerals), pastoral care, and meditation, alongside a religious-education portfolio that includes Kehilla School, Joyfully Jewish (kindergarten), Tot Shabbat, B'Mitzvah preparation, and adult learning such as the 700 Benches Beit Midrash Talmud study (members $280, non-members $350). Go-to-market is community-led: recruitment and retention run on member referrals, weekly newsletter (Mailchimp-driven 'The Weekly'), social channels (Facebook, Instagram), calendar subscriptions (Google, iCalendar, Outlook), and interfaith partnerships, with member billing and the member directory served via a Shulcloud portal.

What differentiates Kehilla from a typical congregation is the depth of its social-justice infrastructure. Fifteen-plus active committees coordinate work in immigration justice (111+ individuals accompanied, 13 asylum grants, a sanctuary guest suite hosting 30 individuals for nearly 600 nights), racial equity (DEIB Team, BIPOC Congress, Arc of Change anti-racism training of 80 leaders by Yavilah McCoy in 2021-2022, White Folx Decentering Whiteness), environmental sustainability (22-kilowatt solar installation via RE-volv in 2014 supplying 70% of energy, Green Menorah Covenant), economic justice, disability justice, Middle East peace, homelessness outreach, and Indigenous land acknowledgment (Shuumi Land Tax paid to Sogoreate Land Trust). Auxiliary served communities include immigrants and refugees, unhoused Oakland residents, and working-class members.

The revenue model rests on four streams: recurring annual membership dues from congregants; voluntary donations, tribute gifts, and cause-specific contributions; episodic facility-rental income from congregant and external renters; and fee-based adult-education programming. Kehilla publicly commits to a sliding-scale/no-one-turned-away policy for both membership and programs. Financial scale is not publicly disclosed; the organization employs 20 paid staff and operates under a Board-of-Trustees governance model with no parent entity, no subsidiaries, no institutional investors, no patents, and no regulatory actions on record.

Name

Kehilla Community Synagogue

Legal name

Kehilla Community Synagogue

Website

https://kehillasynagogue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kehilla Community Synagogue is a progressive, member-supported Jewish congregation in Piedmont, California, founded in 1984, offering Shabbat services, lifecycle events, religious education, and an extensive social-justice platform via 15+ community action committees for Bay Area families and broader virtual attendees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Jewish congregation services
• Religious worship programming
• Jewish education programs
• Social justice advocacy
• Community spiritual care

Headquarters

HQ city

Piedmont, CA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from congregants who join and renew their membership to the synagogue community.
2. Donations and Contributions: Voluntary donations from members and supporters, including tribute gifts, general fund contributions, and support for specific causes like immigration work.
3. Facility Rentals: Rental income from congregants and external parties using Kehilla's building for events, classes, and gatherings.
4. Educational Programs: Fees charged for educational programming such as the 700 Benches Beit Midrash (Kehilla Members: $280, Non-members: $350), with no one turned away for lack of ability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kehilla Community Synagogue is a progressive Jewish congregation providing spiritual worship services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, lifecycle events), Jewish education for youth and adults (Kehilla School, 700 Benches Beit Midrash, B'Mitzvah preparation), pastoral care, meditation, and an extensive social justice program across immigration, racial, economic, disability, and environmental justice. The organization serves members through membership dues, donations, educational program fees, and facility rentals.

Product overview

Kehilla Community Synagogue is a Jewish spiritual community offering a unified portfolio of worship services, educational programs, and community action initiatives. The core offerings include weekly Shabbat services (in-person, virtual, and multi-access formats), comprehensive youth programming through Kehilla School and Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation, adult education including Talmud study through the 700 Benches Beit Midrash, High Holy Days services, and facility rentals. The synagogue supplements its spiritual programming with member management via Shulcloud and newsletter distribution via Mailchimp. Community action committees organize social justice work including immigration accompaniment, racial justice initiatives, and environmental sustainability efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Immigration accompaniment: 111+ individuals from multiple countries supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RE-volvcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Non-profit organization that financed the installation of Kehilla's 22-kilowatt solar panel system. The partnership supplies 70% of the synagogue's energy. Kehilla's lease payments on the solar system have helped RE-volv finance eight other solar installations.
• Jewish Baby NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of Tot Shabbat programming, including Tot Shabbat in the Park events with Jen Miriam. Joint programming for families with young children.
• Dimensions Educational Consulting (Yavilah McCoy)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYavilah McCoy, African-American Jewish leader from Dimensions Educational Consulting, facilitated the year-long Arc of Change anti-racism training attended by 80+ Kehilla leaders in 2021-2022.
• Faith Trio (with Islamic Cultural Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing interfaith partnership with Islamic Cultural Center of Oakland for joint programming including the annual Faith Trio Harvest Dinner and collaborative social justice initiatives. This represents a core interfaith alliance for the three congregations.
• Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJNV's mission is to bring diaspora Jews to Israel/Palestine to engage in creative nonviolent activism. Kehilla's Middle East Peace Committee has partnered with CJNV, including the Hineinu sustained solidarity project and Face-to-Face: Jewish-Palestinian Reparations Alliance committee.
• Jewish Family & Community Services East BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJFCS East Bay provides refugee and immigrant services including resettlement support. Kehilla works with JFCS as community co-sponsors for resettled refugee families from Afghanistan and other countries.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IRC provides refugee resettlement services. Kehilla Immigration Committee worked with IRC as community co-sponsors to help resettle families from Afghanistan evacuated after the Taliban takeover.
• Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of community, faith, advocacy and immigrant-led organizations working to make Contra Costa County welcoming to immigrants. Kehilla participates in coalition activities including rapid response.
• Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization working at the intersection of spirituality and social movements. Kehilla participates in IM4HI-organized events including pilgrimages to ICE detention facilities and the Let Our People Go protests.
• Sogoreate Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous-led organization. Kehilla proudly contributes to the Shuumi Land Tax, a voluntary land tax recognizing the Lisjan Ohlone people on whose territory Kehilla sits. The Sacred Land Committee works to honor Indigenous heritage.
• East Bay Clean Power AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition that worked to bring community choice energy to the East Bay. Kehilla's Greening Committee participated in advocacy that helped create the East Bay Community Energy agency.
• Alameda Interfaith Climate Action Network (AICAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith climate action network. Along with other congregations in AICAN, Kehilla helped organize interfaith services at the People's Climate March and worked on community choice energy advocacy.
• Oakland Climate Action CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working on clean energy and climate action. Kehilla's Greening Committee represents the synagogue on OCAC's clean energy subcommittee.
• Stand Together Contra CostaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRapid response, legal services and community education program supporting immigrant families in Contra Costa County. Manages a deportation defense hotline.
• Catholic Charities of the East BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed Stand Together CoCo deportation defense initiative with a coalition of nonprofits including OCO and the Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defender.
• East Bay Sanctuary CovenantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBSC provides sanctuary including legal services to refugees and immigrants. Kehilla collaborates on sanctuary and immigration justice work in the East Bay.
• The Shalom Center (Rabbi Arthur Waskow)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabbi Arthur Waskow's organization originated the Green Menorah Covenant concept. Kehilla adopted and adapted this eco-Jewish covenant through its Greening Committee.
• New Israel FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of events featuring speakers like Yehuda Shaul of Breaking the Silence on Israel/Palestine issues.
• T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human RightsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of events on Israel/Palestine human rights issues, including Breaking the Silence speaker events.
• Jewish Voice for PeaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of events addressing Israel/Palestine issues from a human rights perspective.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Congregation Netivot Shalom: Conservative egalitarian synagogue in Berkeley, CA, very close to Kehilla geographically and demographically. Comparable progressive, intellectually engaged East Bay Jewish congregation with strong adult education and social justice programming.
• Sha'ar Zahav: Progressive, LGBTQ-affirming Jewish synagogue in San Francisco with deep social justice and racial equity programming. Highly comparable to Kehilla in values, congregational model, and progressive orientation.
• Romemu: New York-based progressive Jewish spiritual community rooted in Jewish Renewal and contemplative practice - exactly the movement Kehilla's founder helped create. Comparable in ethos, programming, and progressive orientation.
• IKAR: Progressive Jewish congregation in Los Angeles known for blending spiritual practice, social justice, and creative communal engagement. Strong analog to Kehilla's progressive, justice-centered model in a different major metro.
• Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: Downtown Washington DC synagogue offering progressive programming, adult education, and cultural events. Comparable model of a smaller, progressive urban synagogue with diversified programming beyond traditional services.

Regional players

• Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco): Large, historic Reform synagogue in San Francisco offering spiritual services, education, and broad social justice programming. Comparable Bay Area progressive Jewish congregation but at much larger scale and more traditional Reform orientation.
• Jewish Community Center of the East Bay: Regional Jewish community center in Berkeley serving overlapping progressive Jewish families in the East Bay with similar programming (education, social justice, cultural events), but broader secular community-center scope.

Others

• T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: Rabbinic human rights organization that Kehilla already partners with on Israel/Palestine events. Comparable as a Jewish social justice organization mobilizing rabbinical and congregational leadership on progressive causes.
• East Bay Sanctuary Covenant: Berkeley-based nonprofit providing legal services and sanctuary to immigrants and refugees. Kehilla's structured partner and directly comparable organizational model (faith-rooted, member-supported, immigration justice) in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• JCC San Francisco: Large, established Bay Area Jewish community center offering programming, education, and social justice engagement comparable in audience and broad intent, but at a much larger institutional scale than Kehilla.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KehillaCommunitySynagogue
• Instagraminstagram.com/kehillasynagogue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kehillasynagogue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kehilla Community Synagogue