ABOUT TEMPLE JEREMIAH

Temple Jeremiah is a liberal Reform congregation emphasizing the intimate relationship among vital and enthusiastic clergy, congregants and the community at large. The temple was founded in 1959 by a small group of dedicated individuals who wanted to create a religious institution that combined the enduring ethics and traditions of Judaism with the ongoing needs of contemporary society.

By definition, a Reform temple is experimental, innovative and challenging. At Temple Jeremiah, we examine the past and relate to it as American Jews living on the North Shore in current times. All areas of study are available to us as we search for a meaningful expression of our love of God, Judaism and humanity.

FOUNDING

Temple Jeremiah was founded at a time when Jews were moving into the area in increasing numbers and the religious facilities could not handle the growing number of congregants. Initially, the temple's worship services and Religious School were held at Hubbard Woods School in Winnetka. A student rabbi was engaged to officiate at services, supervise the religious school and provide for the ancillary needs of the small congregation.

1960's

Only one and a half years later, the congregation had grown to a point where a permanent rabbi was necessary. In 1961, Rabbi Allan Tarshish became Temple Jeremiah's spiritual leader. Ruth Lindar-Littman, one of Temple Jeremiah's founding members, served as the music director and soloist for services from 1961 to 1979 and H. Baron Moss served as the accompanist.

By 1962, the congregation increased in size to a point where services and religious instruction were transfered to Winnetka's Skokie School. After nearly four hundred families joined Temple Jeremiah, the need for a permanent sanctuary and religious school became apparent. While preparations for obtaining land and building a permanent home were underway, the congregation leased a small, two-story building at 860 Oak Street, Winnetka, where the temple office and meeting rooms were located.

After an extensive search for land on the North Shore, the congregation purchased a 5.5 acre parcel on Happ Road between Willow and Sunset Ridge Roads in Northfield as the site for a permanent home.

1970's - 1980's

The next four years, from 1969 to 1972, were busy ones for Temple Jeremiah. Plans for a proposed building were designed and presented to the congregation, and on June 17, 1970, members voted to proceed with construction. Ground was broken on May 2, 1971 and on Saturday, September 9, 1972, Temple Jeremiah held High Holy Day services in its own building.

After serving fourteen years, Rabbi Allan Tarshish was elected Rabbi Emeritus in 1975. Rabbi Tarshish died March 17, 1982, and out of respect to his memory and years of service, the Board of Directors on June 28, 1982 enacted the following resolution: "A living memorial will be established at Temple Jeremiah to honor Rabbi Allan Tarshish, whose spiritual leadership contributed so greatly to the eminence and respect our congregation enjoys today among religious institutions of all denominations. An on-going fund will be established from contributions of Rabbi Tarshish's friends and admirers, which will be called 'The Rabbi Allan Tarshish Fund For Humanity,' the purpose of which will be to perpetuate Rabbi Tarshish's dedication to ecumenism and humanitarian objectives."

1990's

On February 7, 1993, the Joan and Stanley Golder Chapel was dedicated in honor of the couple's fortieth wedding anniversary. Designed by temple member, H. Gary Frank Architect, AIA, it won the 1995 Religious Architecture Award. The 100-seat chapel is used for more intimate services and life-cycle celebrations.

In the late 1990's, our staff reached new heights of achievement as Fern M. Kamen became president of the National Association of Temple Administrators, Anne M. Lidsky received the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education and Amy J. Zussman received her cantorial certification. In 1999, our congregation celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding.

2000's

Rabbi Robert D. Schreibman retired in 2000 after 25 years of service to Temple Jeremiah. He was honored over several months, culminating in a gala weekend in June, 2000. The title of Rabbi Emeritus was bestowed on him in December of that year. Temple Jeremiah named its newly renovated sanctuary "The Rabbi Robert D. Schreibman Sanctuary" during a Dedication Ceremony in December, 2002 (see below).

Rabbi Paul F. Cohen came on board in July, 2000, ready to lead the temple into the next century.

October 28, 2001 marked the exciting groundbreaking of Temple Jeremiah's construction/ renovation project. Work was completed in September, 2002, in time to hold our High Holy Day worship services in our newly restored sanctuary.In December, 2002, to celebrate the culmination of this building project and usher in our new facilities, Temple Jeremiah hosted the Dedication of the Rabbi Robert D. Schreibman Sanctuary and the Center for Learning.

Temple Jeremiah held a special fundraiser/gala event on January 25, 2003, featuring Oscar/Emmy/Tony/Golden Globe winner Marvin Hamlish. The Kol Mishpacha Committee and Religious Education Board followed this up on February 9, 2004, with another spectacular fundraiser, "At the Coffee House" featuring Corky Siegel and Frank Donaldson.

The temple received recognition for its building renovations on April 8, 2003, when the New Trier Township awarded its "Excellence for Service to Persons with Disabilities" plaque to temple officials. This was followed in November, 2003 with the presentation of the prestigious Belin Award for outreach programming by the Union for Reform Judaism.

In September, 2003, Temple Jeremiah's Center for Learning entered into a partnership with the Dawn Schuman Institute and the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, expanding its adult education programming opportunities.

On June 7, 2004, Temple Jeremiah welcomed Rabbi C. Michelle Greenberg into our congregational family. Rabbi Greenberg served as an assistant rabbi in Denver, Colorado, where she focused on adult education, outreach and youth programming. She also worked with the local parish in Brownsville, Texas to build Catholic-Jewish dialogue. Rabbi Greenberg brought a passion for Judaism and a warm, caring spirit to Temple Jeremiah.

Our Center for Learning playground was dedicated on April 25, 2004 as a living memorial to one of our beloved congregants, Julie Sorkin.

Carrying on its commitment to social action, our Sunday School classes launched a drive to support Project NACOEJ, a grassroots, non-profit organization aimed at helping Ethiopian Jews both in Israel and their native country.

Temple Jeremiah launched its first temple-wide social action initiative in 2006/07 to benefit the Waukegan schools which is continuing to the present. Our many projects included construction of a new playground at the EPIC Pre-School, purchase of educational on-line software for teachers, an ongoing reading program for kindergartners and conducting of backpack, clothing and book drives. In recognition of its efforts, the United Way of Lake County named the temple one of its "Celebrated Volunteers" at its Annual Meeting in May, 2007.

To mark its 45th anniversary, the temple held a Gala Celebration, "Music Through the Decades," on April 16, 2005, featuring a dinner, silent auction, raffle, video montage of the temple's history and entertainment by Energy Productions.

Over 350 congregants gathered on March 10, 2006 for "Dr. Anne Lidsky: You Light Up Our Lives" to celebrate Dr. Lidsky's 25 years of dedicated service to Temple Jeremiah's Center for Learning. Cantor Amy Zussman was recognized for her 20th anniversary with the temple at the Annual Meeting on June 13, 2006. A gala event, "Hats Off to Fern," was held in honor of Executive Director Fern Kamen's 25th anniversary with the temple on December 2, 2006.

Fern retired in July 2009 after 28 years of service to the Temple Jeremiah community. The temple hosted a Shabbat Service and Gala Oneg in honor of Fern on June 5, 2009. Click here to see the lyrics of a song Cantor Amy Zussman wrote in tribute to Fern and performed at the service. Michael Garlin has succeeded Fern as Executive Director.

2010 & Beyond

Today, Temple Jeremiah hosts a beautiful main entrance, opening into a spacious foyer, the Tarshish Lounge and coffee bar. Our Sanctuary was recently enhanced with the addition of new stone work and inscriptions on the bima as well as beautiful, glass-stained entryway doors.

A glass-enclosed gift shop offers an array of gift items and Judaica for your shopping pleasure. Our Hebrew and Religious Schools have a separate canopied entryway, with the school office situated immediately inside for greater security and accessibility. A handicapped accessible bima and elevator enable full participation in temple worship services and events. A newly remodeled social hall awaits your celebrations.

On a practical note, fire protection, including a newly installed sprinkler system, and security safeguards, are in place. The south parking lot has been expanded to almost double its size. It features enhanced lighting, a more efficient traffic design and improved drop-off and pick-up areas. All in all, the construction project has resulted in a safer, more comfortable and beautiful home for congregants to worship, socialize and study.

With the help of a grant from the Pathways Awareness Foundation in 2007, Temple Jeremiah installed handicapped accessible doors at its south entry, making our house of worship completely accessible to all.

Temple Jeremiah hosted a series of 50th anniversary festivities, which began with a special Shabbat Service on Friday, May 21, continuing with a "Dancing Through the Decades" dinner and dance gala on Saturday, May 22 and concluded with the dedication of the temple's new Torah, the Torah of Our Own, on Sunday, May 23, 2010. (Click the links for more details and to see pictures from these exciting events.)

Rabbi Greenberg left Temple Jeremiah in June 2010 to pursue academic and rabbinic pursuits on the West Coast. She has been succeeded by Rabbi Emily Segal.

Temple Jeremiah continues to be a vibrant congregation, meeting the spiritual needs of its members and contributing to the betterment of our world.