What do you see when you look at the The Brickyard? Today, it’s a bustling open-air shopping center. But, back in the ’70s, it was a whole different story. The The Brickyard was actually built on a former brickyard, a place where clay was turned into sturdy bricks that built Chicago itself. Then imagine, a ski resort! The hill where the mall stands was once a lively winter wonderland. You wouldn’t know it from the stores and parking lots, but the soil beneath your feet has history hidden within. Then, in 1977, the The Brickyard was born, an indoor mall, filled with the buzz of shoppers and the jingle of cash registers. It was quite the place, with J.C. Penney, Kmart, and Montgomery Ward as its anchors. People would come from all over to browse the stores, and the mall became a hub for the neighborhood. But, as the years went by, malls began to change. Shoppers moved online, and the The Brickyard struggled to keep up. In the early 2000s, the mall was demolished and transformed into the open-air center you see today. So, as you walk through the The Brickyard, take a moment to imagine it in its former glory, a bustling mall, a ski resort, and even a brickyard!
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