Congregation B'nai Shalom

History of the Shul and Ark

In the late 60's and early 70's, many young Jewish couples and families moved to Buffalo Grove seeking affordable housing then being built by developers. As the number of families increased and their children grew to school age, they sought facilities to provide a traditional Jewish education for their children. A school run by the Associated Talmud Torahs was set up to serve their needs.

Before 1977, the only shuls in the area were Beth Judea, a Conservative congregation in Long Grove, and Temple Chai, a Reform congregation in Arlington Heights that later moved to Long Grove.

During the summer of 1977, some eight families who were sending their children to this school gathered together in various locations to explore the possibility of holding traditional High Holiday services. In the fall of 1977, these were conducted for the first time at the Raupp Memorial Building in Buffalo Grove.

Later, this same group decided to expand to Friday night services once a month, then semi-monthly and then weekly. This was the birth of B'nai Shalom. Services were held at a variety of locations in and around Buffalo Grove, including schools, hotels, community centers and park distict clubhouses. In 1979, membership stood at 35 families; by 1980, it had grown to 70 families, and by 1981 to 125 families.

In October, 1984, the current site on Aptakisic Road was purchased, and planning for a permanent shul, school and community center began. Ground was broken in July, 1987, and the building was dedicated in August, 1988, just in time for High Holiday services. At the time, membership stood at 270 families.

THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

Our sanctuary features ten stained glass windows designed by the reknowned artist, Eugene Potente of Kenosha, WI. They use imported stained glass from Holland, France, England and the U.S.A.

Panels 1 and 2 - Creation
Panels 3 and 4 - G-d's Laws
Panels 5 and 6 - Messianic Hope
Panels 7 and 8 - Jewish Life
Panels 9 and 10 - G-d's Universe

THE ARK

In the early 1900's, European artisans designed and constructed an Ark for a new synagogue in Albany Park, Chicago. In 1980, Albany Park Hebrew Congregation was about to close, and Congregation B'nai Shalom was in its infancy in Buffalo Grove. Albany park provided B'nai Shalom with a Torah and some Bimah furniture, but the ark was thought to be permanently installed.

B'nai Shalom was told it was ours if we could remove it and we did. The Ark was broken down into its many pieces and placed in storage awaiting construction of our permanent building eight years later.

B'nai Shalom's use of the ark incorporates both a work of art and the maintenance of tradition and inheritance of Jewish culture from one generation to the next. The Ark was reconfigured and refurbished for its current installation. The woodwork, door and base are original. Gold leaf has been added. The two menorahs had not been operational for decades, but were repaired before being installed.