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Am Shalom (People of
Peace) was established
as a Reform congregation
on June 18, 1972 and
held its first formal
Sabbath service on
August 4, 1972. Sixty
families, having in
common certain concepts
of Jewish worship and
living, came together to
create and fill the need
for a new and vibrant
Reform
congregation.
Under the 30 year
leadership of Rabbi
Harold Kudan, who
retired in 2002 and
new Senior Rabbi Steven
S. Lowenstein, Am Shalom
has grown from the
original sixty families
in a small store-front
office to a currently
capped membership of
850. There is currently
a waiting list of close
to 200
with the average time to
become a member running
3-4 years.
In its historic
building at 840 Vernon
Avenue in Glencoe,
Illinois, Am Shalom
recognizes the critical
importance of Jewish
education in the life of
its congregants. From
classes offered to
children at a very young
age to a
full program in its
Adult Learning Academy,
education at Am Shalom
remains
priority one.
Social Action
programming at Am Shalom
recognizes not only the
needs of the Jewish
community but the
broader community at
large. Through special
Social Action programs
throughout the year as
well as regularly
scheduled
activities such as Feed
the Homeless, Mitzvah
Day and clothing drives,
Am
Shalom truly lives on a
daily basis the spirit
of Tikkum Olam.
And of course there are
Shabbat Services on
Friday evenings and
Saturday
mornings, Jewish holiday
celebrations, healing
services and special
community based
commemorations all of
which are a part of Am
Shalom
fulfilling its
important mission.
History is not static.
As Am Shalom creates
its long range plan and
moves
forward with plans to renovate+modernize its
building, it is
comforting to
know that our community
is enriched and grows
because of the existence
of Am Shalom. |
