Alexis Miller is the executive director of Congregation Kol Emet in Yardley, and while she never planned to serve as a congregational leader upon joining, she found herself in this role thanks to her deep love of the synagogue and its community. She chose the congregation as the one her family would belong to in 2016 largely because of how members welcomed her adopted daughter, she said.
“She was not born to Jewish parents, and she is not white, and we were looking for a community that perhaps had a bit more of a diverse population,” Miller said. “We knew that there were a lot of interfaith couples here and multicultural families here, and when we came to check out a service, we were welcomed with open arms. The truth is that we didn’t necessarily feel different than anybody else, and I wanted that for my daughter — to feel appreciated for her differences, but also like she was just one of everybody, and that she belongs.”
The community welcomed Miller’s daughter, and she welcomed them right back. Just two months ago, nine years after joining Kol Emet, Miller’s daughter was confirmed at the synagogue.
“She started volunteering here when she was a kid and helping out in the preschool and the summer camp. Now, she works here as well, and as we’re starting our college tours, she decided that she wants to minor in Jewish studies because of her experience [at Kol Emet],” Miller said.
For the approximately 190 families that belong to the synagogue, Kol Emet is a second home. The synagogue is growing slowly but steadily, as it counted around 185 member families a little over three years ago and about 175 a little more than a decade ago.
Miller described the community as haimish. She gave one example of an event that is beloved across all groups.
“We have a game night, which is usually on Tuesdays, and sometimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we have people who are in their 20s up through their 80s who come to play,” Miller said. “It’s mah-jongg, Scrabble, canasta and any other game that anybody wants to play. It’s just an opportunity for people to get together and find their common interests.”
Miller said that, while members have different reasons for joining, they all want to be around each other.
“You can come as you are. There is no requirement here for how you need to participate. We just want people to feel like they’re part of the community. Some people come here just to worship and then go home. The majority are here for the community and to be with like-minded folks,” Miller said. “Everybody gets together and prays together and socializes together. It’s really lovely.”
The synagogue is working on a program with Jewish Learning Venture that would be aimed at engaging young families in Jewish life. That includes activities centered around play at the synagogue, parks or elsewhere, making challah, celebrating holidays and more.
Kol Emet also just signed its rabbi of more than a decade, Anna Boswell-Levy, to a new contract that will keep her at the congregation for another five years. The congregation also just purchased a Torah scroll that came to Yardley all the way from New Zealand.
Miller said she never aimed for an executive office. It was just the natural progression of loving her shul.
“It just grew,” she said. “It grew into this opportunity to help my community in a different way than just volunteering for one committee.”
