Chicago Jewish Historical Society editor Robert Nagler Miller has a book review in the September 2025 issue of Hadassah Magazine: www.hadassahmagazine.org/2025/09/05/r...

We extend warm wishes to all our members and friends for a wonderful Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year 5786 - and a year of peace, good health, sweetness, and happiness.

Open House Chicago is coming up on October 18th and 19th. There are many historic Jewish sites featured this year. www.architecture.org/open-house-c...

***Printers Row Lit Fest this weekend, September 6-7*** THIS WEEKEND 40th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest The 2025 Printers Row Lit Fest is set for Saturday, September 6 & Sunday, September 7, 10AM – 6PM. Come Rain or Shine! printersrowlitfest.org?fbclid=IwdGR...

Jewish book month is coming up in November! The next issue of our quarterly journal, Chicago Jewish History, to be published in November, will be our annual Book Issue. Join the Chicago Jewish Historical Society now and subscribe: chicagojewishhistory.org/membership/m...

***The digital version of the Summer Issue of our quarterly journal, Chicago Jewish History, is available with color images.*** For a livelier reading experience, read the issue with the color images. chicagojewishhistory.org/media/2791/9...

***Upcoming program: "Rosenwald: The Remarkable Story of a Jewish Partnership with African American Communities"*** Monday, September 8, 2025 8:00 pm ET | 7:00 pm CT/Chicago Time Zoom Learn more and register here: wrj.org/calendar/ros...

The Summer 2025 issue of Chicago Jewish History, published by the Chicago Jewish HIstorical Society (CJHS), is available online! chicagojewishhistory.org/publications...

This is our beautiful logo, created by artist and founding CJHS member Roseann Chasman, z"l. The title's biblical quote is from the prophetic reading that accompanies Eikev (Deuternomy 7:12 - 11:25), the Torah portion that was read in synagogues today, August 16, 2025.

***Robert's Fish Market (kosher) is Reopening*** Read this report about the store: blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/30/r...

Congregation Shaare Tikvah, organized in 1947. -Synagogue building at 5800 N. Kimball. -Rabbi: Morris Gutstein. -Merged with B'nai Zion (founded in Rogers Park) in 2002. Combined congregation closed in 2014. www.flickr.com/photos/zol87...

Please see the below photos of our May 27 Rosenwald program, "From Sears to Eternity," co-hosted with the Jewish Neighborhood Development Council of Chicago at the Skokie Library.

The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival is this Sunday! Visit the Chicago Jewish Historical Society table in the Green tent. We would love to meet you!

If you build it, they will schlep.

New article in Forward: "A Jewish farmer drove 600 miles to rescue a century-old synagogue. Now he’s building a new one in a cornfield." forward.com/news/725026/...

New article in Jewish Chicago: "End of an era: George Van Dusen retires after 26 years as Skokie mayor" www.juf.org/Mag/tmpl-art...

"From Sears to Eternity" I'm kvelling. No notes.

Check out this new article by Chicago Jewish History editor Robert Nagler Miller: "The graduates: Two generations, one ceremony" www.juf.org/Mag/tmpl-art...

The spring 2025 issue of our journal, Chicago Jewish History, is now online! www.chicagojewishhistory.org/publications...

***Chicago Public Library celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month with books and a very special event*** www.chipublib.org/news/celebra...

On May 6, at the corner of Giles Ave. and Pershing Rd., Chicago installed an honorary street sign "Harlem Globetrotters Way." The site is in Bronzeville near Wendell Phillips High School, where the team got its start. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

"Netflix tells tale of 7 siblings who miraculously survived the Holocaust to restart life in the United States" www.timesofisrael.com/netflix-tell...

Be sure to check out this link to the recording of today's Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) program! Presenter: Robert Packer Topic: "Suburban Synagogues of Chicago" Slide show and talk followed by Q and A moderated by CJHS board member Joy Kingsolver us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Tl...

The Chicago Jewish Historical Society will have a table at the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival, June 8. It will be a great event. Don't miss it! Make sure to visit us when you are there.

***Upcoming talk on Chicago's synagogues*** Robb Packer will be joining us virtually on Sunday, May 4, 7 p.m. CT, for “170 Years of Chicago Synagogue History,” a pictorial tour of synagogues throughout Chicagoland. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

***New book about Jews and religious freedom in the founding of the United States*** A Promised Land: Jewish Patriots, the American Revolution, and the Birth of Religious Freedom by Adam Jortner global.oup.com/academic/pro...

Honoring Julius Rosenwald, Tuesday, May 27 • 7:00–8:30 PM CT Join us for a special screening of WTTW11’s "From Sears to Eternity: The Julius Rosenwald Story," profiling Chicago’s most extraordinary Jewish philanthropist. Register here - bit.ly/4lsW5Ke

Honoring Julius Rosenwald, Tuesday, May 27 • 7:00–8:30 PM CT Join us for a special screening of WTTW11’s "From Sears to Eternity: The Julius Rosenwald Story," profiling Chicago’s most extraordinary Jewish philanthropist. Register here - bit.ly/4lsW5Ke

***Upcoming Book Talk*** Samuel D. Kassow - Rokhl Auerbach's Warsaw Testament Thursday, April 24, 5pm Kent Lab 101, 1020 E. 58th St. Or register for Zoom: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

***New book about Jews and religious freedom in the founding of the United States*** A Promised Land: Jewish Patriots, the American Revolution, and the Birth of Religious Freedom by Adam Jortner global.oup.com/academic/pro...

***Jewish Pharmacists give back to their alma mater and the community*** pharmacy.uic.edu/news-stories...

***Chicago Jewish Optometrists*** An avid Chicago Jewish History reader, Dr. Bruce Gaynes, OD and PharmD, enjoyed our series on Jewish pharmacists. He suggested that we do a similar series about Jewish optometrists in Chicago. Great idea! 1/2

***78th Annual Latke-Hamentashen Debate at University of Chicago on March 30 at 7pm CT*** In-person and online www.uchicagohillel.org/latke-hamant...

***Jewish Pharmacists give back to their alma mater and the community*** pharmacy.uic.edu/news-stories...

***April 7 - The Yiddish Ecologies Conference, Part II: ‘Wonder-Woods’ - The Ecologies of Avrom Sutzkever, Poet and Partisan*** The Ecologies of Avrom Sutzkever, Poet and Partisan Monday, April 7, 10am Online event - register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-yiddis...

We had a great March 23rd program with record-breaking total attendance! The Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGS of Illinois) sponsored a terrific presentation on March 23rd by Dr. Tobias Brinkmann.

"Cindy Pritzker, beloved family matriarch and philanthropist, dies at 101" www.nprillinois.org/illinois/202...

"Making an Impression: Immigrant Printing in Chicago" is a free exhibit at the Newberry Library closing 3/29. Included in the exhibit is this image of Maxwell Street by Todros Geller, (1888-1949) a major figure in the Jewish and general art communities in Chicago. www.newberry.org/calendar/imm...

***Upcoming Program on Jewish Migration*** Distinguished Jewish studies professor Dr. Tobias Brinkmann, of Pennsylvania State University, will be talking about Jewish migration on March 23 at 1 pm at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook. Register here: jgsi.org/event-5876841

Check out the below recording from yesterday's program with Mark Jacob speaking on Abe Saperstein and the Globetrotters. Saperstein's granddaughter, Abra Berkley, was part of the conversation. us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/8I...

New article in the Chicago Tribune by Ron Grossman about the Chess Brothers, "Chess Records, Muddy Waters and the birth of urban blues music." Please see the article below. The Chess brothers were Jewish. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/16/c...

***New issue of our publication, Chicago Jewish History*** Be sure to check out the new Winter 2025 issue of Chicago Jewish History. Thanks as always to our editor, Robert Nagler Miller, for all of his hard work on the journal. www.chicagojewishhistory.org/media/2664/9...

***New exhibit space for West Rogers Park Exhibit*** The photo exhibit will also be on display at the Skokie Public Library from May 12 to July 20. Viewing the exhibit at Temple Beth El is open to the public by calling the synagogue in advance at (847) 205-9982.

Mr. Thomas is also knowledgeable about the Jewish history of Chicago's neighborhoods. blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/30/s...

"Saul Bellow honored by Chicago" aliteraryreeder.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/s...

"Literary Arts Series Spotlights Novelist Saul Bellow" about.usps.com/newsroom/nat...

In the 1930s, Chicago and other U.S. cities were sites of a pro- Nazi organization, the German American Bund. PBS's American Experience: Nazi Town, USA documents the story of this organization: www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...

On March 9, 1943, Madison Square Garden was filled for the staging of "We Will Never Die," a pageant written and produced by Chicago journalist Ben Hecht. The Pageant took place one month before the eve of Passover, April 19, the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...

***Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) Talk on Globetrotter Legend Abe Saperstein*** Sunday, February 23, 2 p.m. CT, at the Evanston Public Main Library. Zoom option as well: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

"Bernie, Rita, and WFMT: The Jewish Beginnings of a Venerable Chicago Radio Station" By Robert Sideman www.chicagojewishhistory.org/media/2182/C... pp. 4-7