Am Shalom’s mission, as a Reform congregation, is to engage, enlighten, embrace and educate our members in ways that build a sense of community, while respecting individual forms of expression and belief. We seek to explore our Jewish roots, awareness and values, and enrich the spiritual lives of our members, while serving humanity through social action.
Am Shalom began when sixty families, who shared certain common concepts of Jewish worship and living, came together to create a new and vibrant Reform congregation. Under the leadership of founding Rabbi Harold L. Kudan, who retired in 2002 after 30 years of service, and current Senior Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein, Am Shalom has grown from those original sixty families to its current membership of nearly 1,200 households.
Forty people gathered in the living room of Lynne and Dr. Sidney Black on June 18, 1972, and together decided to “establish a…friendly and warm congregation with a maximum of participation of its members.”
In his June 26, 1972 letter, Rabbi Harold L. Kudan accepted the position as rabbi of the new congregation with these words: “I concur…that such a congregation [can provide] an opportunity for an expression of modern, progressive Reform Jewish thinking, while fostering a sense of community with personal identity and meaning….”
On June 27 and 28, 1972, the committee to form the new synagogue met and chose temporary officers and directors of its board. They agreed that the name of their new congregation must include the word shalom (peace). The name Am Shalom—the People of Peace—was decided on June 28, 1972.
During the summer of 1972, Sabbath services were held each Friday night in the homes of various members, and a temporary office was established at 729 St. Johns Avenue in Highland Park.
The first formal Shabbat Service took place on August 4, 1972 at Sager Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook. In keeping with its democratic and inclusive ideals, the congregation’s first prayer book was prepared by the members of the congregation who selected its contents by drawing from a full spectrum of backgrounds, beliefs, and levels of ritual practice.
In September 1972, executive offices were established at 331 Park Avenue in Glencoe, in a five-room suite above the bank.
The first High Holy Days service, Erev Rosh HaShanah, took place on September 8, 1972, at the Winnetka Congregational Church.
The first day of Religious School was September 17, 1972, and it took place at Central School in Glencoe.
Hebrew School began on September 20, 1972, at North Shore United Methodist Church.
The first Board Meeting took place on November 21, 1972, at the home of Marie “Tiny” and Stan Schuman, during which by-laws were amended and directors were ratified to serve through the first annual meeting (to take place in June of 1973).
The first Cantor, Ian Geller, began in 1972, followed by Jeanne Diamond, Joel Shapiro, and Nancy Diamond Landsman.
Sharon Morton became the congregation’s first full-time Education Director in 1976. She was succeeded by Judi Berliner in 2008.
In 1976, the congregation moved to its first “real” home at 614 Sheridan Road in Glencoe.
Am Shalom sponsors the Sepulveda Family, refugees from Santiago, Chile. They are followed by the Lay Family from Cambodia in 1979.
The first formal Shabbat Service took place on August 4, 1972 at Sager Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook. In keeping with its democratic and inclusive ideals, the congregation’s first prayer book was prepared by the members of the congregation who selected its contents by drawing from a full spectrum of backgrounds, beliefs, and levels of ritual practice.
Rabbi Kudan was joined by the congregation’s first Assistant Rabbi, Roy Furman, in 1987, followed by Assistant and Associate Rabbis Scott Looper, Audrey S. Pollack, and David B. Kudan.
Am Shalom’s monthly mitzvah opportunity, Feeding the Hungry, began in 1987.
Am Shalom sponsored the Pisman Family from the Former Soviet Union in 1991.
Rabbi Kudan retired in 2002, and Am Shalom welcomed its second Senior Rabbi, Steven Stark Lowenstein. Rabbi Steve came to Am Shalom from Temple Sholom in Chicago, and recently celebrated his 25th year in the rabbinate.
Associate Rabbi Phyllis Sommer joined Am Shalom in 2003, later becoming Director of Congregational Learning.
The renovations to Am Shalom’s 840 Vernon Avenue location were completed in 2008.
Rabbi Pam Mandel joined the congregation in 2012 as an Associate Rabbi.
Cantor Andrea Rae Markovicz became our Senior Cantor in 2013.
Am Shalom sponsored the Khelo and Abdulqader families from Syria in 2017.
Julie Staple joined Am Shalom in 2018 as our Associate Cantor.
Am Shalom became the first Jewish synagogue on the Metaverse in 2021 — with so much more to come in our next 50 years!
