Have you ever heard of a street named in honor of a battle in the American Civil War? West Belmont Avenue, right here in Chicago, is one such street. It was named after the Battle of Belmont, fought in 1861 in Missouri. Belmont Avenue is a major east-west street in Chicago and several of its suburbs. It begins in the east near Belmont Harbor and is a key commercial street in Lakeview. It’s a long street, traveling for miles, and its personality changes as you walk along it. You pass through Avondale, where you are reminded of the area’s past thanks to the smell of burning coffee in the air, probably from a nearby roasting plant. Further west, you will find the Belmont-Central shopping district, which serves the Belmont Cragin and Portage Park communities. Back in the day, West Belmont Avenue was the southern border of the famous Riverview Park, an amusement park that was popular from 1904 until 1967. Today, the park is gone, replaced by the Riverview Plaza shopping center and the Belmont District Police Station. This wide avenue, West Belmont Avenue, is a fascinating study of contrasts. It’s a place where old world charm meets modern bustle, and where you can find everything from luxury housing to greasy Chinese food.
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