Temple Judea Mizpah

Founded in 1919 Temple Judea Mizpah began as Temple Mizpah in Rogers Park. It was a small group. Twenty families maybe. They were interested in Liberal or Reformed Judaism. They grew. Over 500 families joined. They built a Community House in 1924. This was on the southwest corner of Morse Avenue and Ashland Avenue. The building cost a fortune. Some say a quarter of a million dollars. Others say half a million. Imagine over three hundred children. They participated in the groundbreaking ceremony. All dressed in overalls and wielding shovels. The building itself was impressive. Designed by Spitzer & Popkin it was Byzantine in style. Steel and concrete with a stone exterior. A circular entrance. A semi-circular tile dome. It was actually two buildings. The temple and a community house. They shared an entrance a grand stairway a lobby and a foyer. The temple seated 1813 people. The community house had an assembly hall a gymnasium classrooms and a library. A truly magnificent structure. But times changed. In 1977 Temple Mizpah merged with Temple Judea of Niles Township. They became Temple Judea Mizpah. The new Temple Judea Mizpah was in Skokie. Not Rogers Park. The old building in Rogers Park was sold. It is now the Korean United Presbyterian Church. Temple Judea Mizpah’s history in Skokie was long and vibrant. But in 2018 it merged with Beth Emet. This marked the end of an era. Yet its legacy lives on. The memories. The stories. The faith. All preserved in photographs and records. Available for those who wish to delve deeper into its fascinating past. Temple Judea Mizpah. A story of growth merger and enduring faith.