Our History

Established in 1847, Kehilat Anshei Ma-arav (KAM) is the oldest synagogue in Illinois. Although KAM began as an Orthodox congregation, our members began to reform their practice almost from the beginning. In 1852, conflict over issues of Reform and traditional observances led to the creation of a new congregation, B'nai Sholom. In 1874, KAM became a founding member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now known as the Union for Reform Judaism.
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Liebman Adler
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Isaac Moses
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Joseph Stolz
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Tobias Schanfarber
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Gerson Levi
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Solomon Freehof
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Jacob Weinstein
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Morton Berman
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Hayim Perelmuter
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Simeon Maslin
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Arnold Jacob Wolf
Our History

Wed, September 27 2023
12 Tishrei 5784
Tours
Contact us to schedule your tour of our historic sanctuary today.
Rabbinic Heritage
We have a long legacy of powerful rabbinic leadership. Read more about our rabbinic heritage here.
Our Future
Our current building is over 100 years of. Learn more about our restoration of our historic sanctuary and see how you can get involved here.
Musical Legacy
Our music has always been innovating. Read more about our musical legacy here.