Kehillat

Kehillat is a Jewish term that refers to a community or congregation. In Hebrew, kehilla means “assembly” or “community,” and the construct form kehillat denotes “the community of” or “the congregation of.” The word is used in many Jewish languages and transliterations, and kehillot is the plural form in English renderings.

Historically, kehillot were self-governing communal bodies within Jewish communities, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and the Ottoman lands. They often managed religious life, education, charity, and civil affairs for Jews in a city or district. Communal leaders and lay officers administered budgets, supervised ritual and charitable institutions, and liaised with authorities. Kehillot could appoint local religious and administrative officials and, in some communities, maintained ritual courts and schools.

In modern usage, the term remains common in Israel and the diaspora. Many synagogues, community centers, and organizations devote themselves to Jewish religious, cultural, and social life under the banner of a kehilla or kehillot, signaling a local, self-governing Jewish community. The name is frequently adopted by congregations across different movements, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Renewal communities, reflecting a continued emphasis on communal responsibility and mutual support.

Related terms include kahal, an older Hebrew form used in various historical contexts to denote a community or assembly. Today, kehillot typically emphasize inclusive community life, shared worship, education, and charitable activity within the broader fabric of Jewish society.