“Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit” at the Downers Grove Public Library

Behold, a New Chicago Jewish Historical Society website!

chicagojewishhistory.org

Q&A with "1001 Train Rides in Chicago" author Richard Reeder The book "1001 Train Rides in Chicago" by Richard Reeder comes out this week on Eckhartz Press. What is it about? Nearly a century has passed since Ben Hecht wrote the last of his 1001

***Chicago Jewish Historical Society member, Richard Reeder, pays homage to Ben Hecht***

eckhartzpress.com/qa-with-1001...

***Honorary Ben Hecht Way at Newberry Library***

From our Chicago Jewish Historical Society president Dr. Rachelle Gold:

"I visited Newberry Library yesterday and noticed that the southeast corner of the property, the intersection of Walton and Dearborn Streets, is named in honor of Ben Hecht."

WTTW Community Screening and Conversation – Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History Join WTTW for a screening of and conversation about BLACK AND JEWISH AMERICA: AN INTERWOVEN HISTORY, a new four-part docuseries that explores the complex relationship between Black Americans and Jewis...

***WTTW new series: Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History***

Following the broadcasts, on February 25, WTTW is hosting a Community Screening and Conversation with speakers, including Daniel Greene who has presented for the Chicago Jewish Historical Society:

www.wttw.com/events/2026-...

***Book Talk: A Discussion with Dominic A. Pacyga, Author of Clout City***

Thursday, February 19, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM CST
Free and open to the public

More info here: chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

REVIEW: 'This is Not About Us' Allegra Goodman, the arbiter of Jewish American family tsuris, delivers a complex portrait of complicated people living in a world that they find increasingly inscrutable and impenetrable.

***Robert Nagler Miller's book review in Hadassah Magazine***

Our Chicago Jewish History editor Robert Nagler Miller reviewed Allegra Goodman's new book in the current issue of Hadassah Magazine.

www.hadassahmagazine.org/2026/01/07/r...

Congregation Agudath Jacob in Evanston closed in 1994. Here is the link to Rabbi Wiesenthal's Chicago Jewish History article that mentions Agudath Jacob:

chicagojewishhistory.org/media/2791/9...

Sima Miller Sima Miller has appeared in concert and on radio and television throughout the United States as well as in Israel. Her Israeli heritage, extending back through six generations, add depth and understan...

We learned of the passing of Sima Miller, singer and musician. She and her musician husband Arnold Miller z"l were longtime, avid Chicago Jewish Historical Society members.

The Millers were renowned in the world of Jewish music.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCkF...

The Faith Traditions of Rogers Park and West Ridge What is the Role of Religion in a Multicultural Community? The neighboring communities of Rogers Park and West Ridge truly represent The World in One Neighborhood, where people from all nations mak…

Check out this Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society exhibition from 2018.

Our Chicago Jewish Historical Society Social Media Manager, @nellstra.bsky.social , was involved in planning and organizing this when he was a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago.

rpwrhs.org/the-faith-tr...

***Photos from December 25 kosher Chinese meal***

This is a tradition in Chicago!!

78th Annual Latke-Hamantash Debate YouTube video by The University of Chicago

***78th Annual Latke-Hamantash Debate***

The 2025 Latke-Hamantash Debate, an annual ritual at the University of Chicago, was held in February of 2025.

Here is a video of the full event. Who will be the 2026 debaters? Stay tuned.

youtube.com/watch?v=yO0w...

We hope to see you on Sunday, December 7 at a free program about the history of The Ark, featuring a panel of Ark staff members and leaders, a tour of the Ark's beautiful new building, and refreshments.

Register: arkchicago.org/cjhs/

Questions? info@chicagojewishistory.org

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS!

American synagogues are closing at a record rate. This retired judge is rescuing their stained glass windows. Jerry Orbach is rescuing stained glass from closed synagogues — giving the windows, and the communities they once illuminated, a second life.

"American synagogues are closing at a record rate. This retired judge is rescuing their stained glass windows."

forward.com/news/779236/...

***Community Event***

Mah Tovu Congregation
7315 N. Western Ave. Chicago

Presents Kristallnacht Lecture 2025/ 5786
Professor Pamela Nadell
Topic: "Antisemitism: An American Tradition"
Sunday, November 9th, 7-8:30pm
Ma’ariv follows.

Please RSVP to
johnsto1@uic.edu

***Illinois Statehood Day 2025 Set For December 3rd***

Join us for a full day of Illinois History!

Statehood Day 2025 will be held at the Inn at 835 in Springfield.

Tickets can be reserved/purchased at ilstatehoodday2025.eventbrite.com or by calling the office at 217-525-2781, ext. 2.

Neighborhood Icon, Community Treasure: The Story of Clark-Devon Hardware - Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society The iconic Clark-Devon Hardware clock is a neighborhood landmark, marking the corner where Bernie Walchak began the business a century ago. Join his grandson, Ken Walchak to hear the story.

***Program of interest - the history of an iconic Jewish hardware store***

One of our partner organizations, the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, is presenting a program of interest to the Chicago Jewish community.

Information and registration:

rpwrhs.org/program/neig...

Chicago Jewish Historical Society editor Robert Nagler Miller has a book review in the September 2025 issue of Hadassah Magazine:

www.hadassahmagazine.org/2025/09/05/r...

We extend warm wishes to all our members and friends for a wonderful Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year 5786 - and a year of peace, good health, sweetness, and happiness.

Open House Chicago

Open House Chicago is coming up on October 18th and 19th.

There are many historic Jewish sites featured this year.

www.architecture.org/open-house-c...

Printers Row Lit Fest The 40th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest, returns to Printers Row on September 6-7, 2025.

***Printers Row Lit Fest this weekend, September 6-7***

THIS WEEKEND

40th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest

The 2025 Printers Row Lit Fest is set for Saturday, September 6 & Sunday, September 7, 10AM – 6PM. Come Rain or Shine!

printersrowlitfest.org?fbclid=IwdGR...

Jewish book month is coming up in November!

The next issue of our quarterly journal, Chicago Jewish History, to be published in November, will be our annual Book Issue.

Join the Chicago Jewish Historical Society now and subscribe:

chicagojewishhistory.org/membership/m...

***The digital version of the Summer Issue of our quarterly journal, Chicago Jewish History, is available with color images.***

For a livelier reading experience, read the issue with the color images.

chicagojewishhistory.org/media/2791/9...

***Upcoming program: "Rosenwald: The Remarkable Story of a Jewish Partnership with African American Communities"***

Monday, September 8, 2025
8:00 pm ET | 7:00 pm CT/Chicago Time
Zoom

Learn more and register here: wrj.org/calendar/ros...

The Summer 2025 issue of Chicago Jewish History, published by the Chicago Jewish HIstorical Society (CJHS), is available online!

chicagojewishhistory.org/publications...

This is our beautiful logo, created by artist and founding CJHS member Roseann Chasman, z"l.

The title's biblical quote is from the prophetic reading that accompanies Eikev (Deuternomy 7:12 - 11:25), the Torah portion that was read in synagogues today, August 16, 2025.

Robert's Fish Market Reopening In West Ridge After Owner's Battle With Serious Illness Owner Arturo Venegas was hospitalized for several months after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. He’s reopening the shop Tuesday after temporarily closing it last summer.

***Robert's Fish Market (kosher) is Reopening***

Read this report about the store:

blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/30/r...

Congregation Shaare Tikvah 5800 N Kimball Ave Chicago, IL 60659 www.stbzsynagogue.squarespace.com

Congregation Shaare Tikvah, organized in 1947.

-Synagogue building at 5800 N. Kimball.
-Rabbi: Morris Gutstein.
-Merged with B'nai Zion (founded in Rogers Park) in 2002. Combined congregation closed in 2014.

www.flickr.com/photos/zol87...