K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Temple
Encyclopedia
KAM Isaiah Israel is the oldest
Jewish congregation
in Chicago
, with its oldest core founded in 1847 as Kehilath Anshe Ma'arav ("Congregation of the Men of the West", probabaly referring to the Middle-west, abbreviated as KAM).
In 1922 KAM moved from their Louis Sullivan
and Dankmar Adler
designed temple in Bronzeville to a private residence in Hyde Park
. Their temple became the Pilgrim Baptist Church
, gave birth to Gospel music
, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973, designated a Chicago Landmark
in 1981, and destroyed by fire in 2006. In 1971 KAM merged with another Reform
congregation, Isaiah Israel (builders of the present temple), to become KAM Isaiah Israel.
The temple is at 1100 E. Hyde Park Boulevard in the Kenwood neighborhood
. Kenwood is an area known for its large homes and fairly wealthy residents, such as Barack Obama
(who lives across the street on Greenwood Avenue) and Muhammad Ali
. The temple's architecture was inspired by those constructed during the Byzantine Period of Judaism. The dome is topped with a spire
, reminiscent of a minaret
. Built for the Isaiah Israel congregation in 1924, the building was designed by Alfred S. Alschuler
, who drew his influence from photographs of the 2nd-century Severus synagogue unearthed at Tiberias, in Galilee
. The extensions were designed by architects John Alschuler (the son of Alfred) and Ron Dirsmith. The building was redesignated an official Chicago Landmark on April 16, 1996.
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
Jewish congregation
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, with its oldest core founded in 1847 as Kehilath Anshe Ma'arav ("Congregation of the Men of the West", probabaly referring to the Middle-west, abbreviated as KAM).
In 1922 KAM moved from their Louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
and Dankmar Adler
Dankmar Adler
Dankmar Adler was a celebrated German-born American architect.-Early years:...
designed temple in Bronzeville to a private residence in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Chicago
Hyde Park, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, in Cook County, Illinois, United States and seven miles south of the Chicago Loop, is a Chicago neighborhood and one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is home to the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center, the Museum of Science...
. Their temple became the Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church is an historic church located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The landmarked building was originally constructed for a synagogue, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Temple. The church is notable both as an architectural landmark and for the cultural contributions by the...
, gave birth to Gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973, designated a Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
in 1981, and destroyed by fire in 2006. In 1971 KAM merged with another Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
congregation, Isaiah Israel (builders of the present temple), to become KAM Isaiah Israel.
The temple is at 1100 E. Hyde Park Boulevard in the Kenwood neighborhood
Kenwood, Chicago
Kenwood, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.Kenwood was part of Hyde Park Township, which was annexed by the City of Chicago in 1889....
. Kenwood is an area known for its large homes and fairly wealthy residents, such as Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(who lives across the street on Greenwood Avenue) and Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
. The temple's architecture was inspired by those constructed during the Byzantine Period of Judaism. The dome is topped with a spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
, reminiscent of a minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
. Built for the Isaiah Israel congregation in 1924, the building was designed by Alfred S. Alschuler
Alfred S. Alschuler
Alfred S. Alschuler was one of Chicago's most prolific and versatile architects during the height of the city's architectural boom. His designs included warehouses, department stores, industrial buildings, synagogues, and offices...
, who drew his influence from photographs of the 2nd-century Severus synagogue unearthed at Tiberias, in Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
. The extensions were designed by architects John Alschuler (the son of Alfred) and Ron Dirsmith. The building was redesignated an official Chicago Landmark on April 16, 1996.