The story of South Holland is one of resilience and transformation. Standing here, you are in a place that was once a vast prairie, home to only native grasses and the occasional wandering bison. It was here, in 1847, that a group of Dutch immigrants settled, drawn to the promise of new beginnings in the American frontier. They called the area “Lage Prairie,” meaning “Low Prairie,” as it sat along the banks of the Little Calumet River. The land was fertile, and the Dutch, accustomed to farming in the Netherlands, quickly established themselves as farmers. They grew crops like onions, tomatoes, and sugar beets, and South Holland even became known as the “Onion Set Capital of the World,” their small onion plants vital for growing large onions elsewhere. This was the foundation of South Holland’s early identity, a community of farmers working the land. The early Dutch settlers were a tight-knit community, but they were not the first to claim this land. Native Americans had called this area home for centuries, and their legacy lives on in the names given to landmarks like the Little Calumet River. Their presence is also reflected in the place they call home: South Holland is a place of duality, where old and new meet, Dutch heritage meets American opportunity, and the legacy of the past is woven into the fabric of the present.
Congregation Or Torah
Rabbi Zvi Engel’s leadership guides Congregation Or Torah. This impressive Modern Orthodox Synagogue stands proudly in Skokie Illinois. It’s one