Picture this: a bustling community born from a merger. Beth Hillel Congregation Bnai Emunah stands before you. This wasn’t always one building one congregation. It’s a story of two synagogues their histories intertwined.
Beth Hillel Congregation started in the mid-1950s. Young Jewish families moved to Wilmette. Twenty-five families met in February 1958. They voted to be Conservative. Beth Hillel began with Rabbi Louis H Lieberworth. Their first High Holiday services were held in the Wilmette Women’s Club. A religious school followed using space at Highcrest School. They bought land on Big Tree Lane. In August 1961 they broke ground for a school building. This building was dedicated in March 1963. Eight years later the sanctuary opened.
Meanwhile Congregation Bnai Emunah formed in 1953. Jewish veterans from Chicago’s west side moved north. They were seeking affordable housing. This congregation was originally in Lincolnwood. Services were held in members’ homes. Then they bought land in Skokie. A daycare and shops were on the property. The main building with classrooms opened in 1964. Rabbi Harold Stern led the congregation from 1959-1991. Rabbi Michael Laxmeter served from 1993-2004. In the late 1970s Bnai Emunah was thriving. Over 950 families were members. More than 1000 students attended Hebrew school. They were even the first congregation in the US to have a blood bank.
These two distinct congregations merged in June 2004. They became Beth Hillel Congregation Bnai Emunah a powerful force in Chicago’s north suburbs. Their combined history is evident in the building itself. Each element holds a piece of this rich legacy. From those early High Holiday services in a women’s club to the bustling community center it is today. Beth Hillel Congregation Bnai Emunah stands as a testament to faith community and enduring spirit. A truly unique and special place.