Kehilat Anshei Ma-arav Isaiah Israel Congregation, Hyde Park, Chicago Illinois
KAM Isaiah Israel was founded in 1847 as Kehilat An’shei Ma’arav, “Congregation of the Men of the West”. As they migrated first from Germany to Chicago then south over the years until settling in Hyde Park in the 1920 they maintained involvement with their community through social justice programming and the development of a community garden. And as many other Jewish congregations moved away KAM Isaiah Israel has been proud to call themselves “the people who stayed”. The current synagogue was built in 1924 by Alfred S. Alschuler and became a Chicago Historical Landmark in 1977. Originally built for Temple Isaiah this community quickly merged with Congregation B’nai Sholom becoming Temple Isaiah Israel. Then in 1971 this congregation merged with KAM to become KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation.
About KAM Isaiah Israel
Dates Active: 1847-Present
Congregation: KAM Isaiah Israel
Religious Tradition: Union for Reform Judaism
Architect(s): Alfred S. Alschuler
Photography: Christopher Allison and Jonathan Noble (September 29, 2023)
Click below to see our in-progress interactive historical tour of KAM Isaiah Israel.