Temple Sholom


Temple Sholom is a Reform Jewish congregation located at 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1867, it is one of the oldest and largest synagogues in Chicago with over 1,100 Member Families

Architecture

The current building's design began as a 1921 assignment given to three students at the School of Architecture at the Armour Institute. By 1928, with the assistance of professional architects Charles Hodgson of Chicago and Charles A. Coolidge of Boston, the Byzantine Revival and Moorish Revival structure was completed. The western wall of the 1,350 seat sanctuary was mounted on wheels so that it could be moved, opening the room into the adjoining social hall almost doubling the capacity.
In 1972, Israeli artist Nehemia Azaz was commissioned to create a set of five stained glass windows representing selections from Job, Proverbs, Psalms, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Later, in 1996 Leon Golub was given a commission to design a set of stained glass windows for Temple Sholom in Chicago, the four windows depict the life of Joseph. These would be the only stained glass windows Leon Golub ever did. They were fabricated in New York by Victor Rothman and Gene Mallard.

Rabbi Frederick C. Schwartz Library and Mendelson Gallery

The Rabbi Frederick C. Schwartz Library holds 6,000 adult books, 2,000 children's books, 300 videos and 30 journals. The Mendelson Gallery exhibits Jewish art.
Rabbi Shoshanah Conover is only the 8th and first woman Senior Rabbi Temple Sholom has had during its 152-year history!
Senior Rabbi - Shoshanah Conover
Associate Rabbi - Scott Gellman
Assistant Rabbi - Rena Singer
Cantor Sheera Ben-David

Past

Senior Rabbi Edwin C. Goldberg, 2013 - 2019. Before joining Temple Sholom, Rabbi Goldberg served as the Senior Rabbi of Temple Judea in Coral Gables, Florida for seventeen years.
Senior Rabbi Frederick C. Schwartz, 1974 - 1997, having previously served in St. Paul, MN.
Senior Rabbi Aaron Mark Petuchowski, 1997 - 2012, having previously served at Temple Sinai of Roslyn, New York for fourteen years.
Cantor Aviva Katzman, 1987-2015. Cantor Emerita 2015-current. Cantor Aviva Katzman was the first female member of the Jewish clergy in the city of Chicago.