A North Shore Congregation Where Instruments Meet Tradition
Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation has called a single-story building at 4 North Happ Road home since the village of Northfield grew accustomed to its presence in 1968. From that address, the congregation describes itself as the liberal voice of the Conservative movement, and the welcome reaches across Chicago's North Shore to Northfield, Glencoe, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, and the surrounding communities. The current motto is Honoring Tradition. Creating New Ones.
The temple serves a community shaped around music, egalitarianism, and inclusion. Membership is open to all, and the congregation embraces differences in marital status, family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, mental and physical health, and ability. Musical instruments - guitar, keyboard, occasional percussion - are part of regular worship, a choice that sets the congregation apart from many other Conservative synagogues and shapes the spiritual experience for regulars and first-time visitors alike.
Founded by Eighteen Families in 1968
The story begins with Rabbi William Frankel and his wife Toby Frankel, who arrived with eighteen devoted families in February 1968. The first Board of Trustees met on February 25, 1968, with Arthur Weil as president, Sol Bleiweis as treasurer, and Gloria Rozner as secretary. The original members, many of whose names are now inscribed in the annual Book of Remembrance, established a congregation rooted in openness, equality, fairness, and lifelong learning. Those values remain the congregation's stated guiding principles: an extended Jewish family where each member matters, spiritual growth and a love of Torah, Jewish learning for all ages, an unpretentious and joyful environment, and tzedakah and Tikkun Olam woven into every action.
In 1994, Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin became the congregation's spiritual leader, making Am Yisrael one of the first Conservative congregations in the Chicago area to be headed by a woman. Rabbi Newman Kamin has now served for more than three decades, building a rabbinate centered on relationships, learning, and the conviction that Jewish tradition has the power to enrich every stage of life. She is married, the mother of three adult children, and the proud grandmother of two.
Shabbat, the Weekday Minyan, and a Triennial Reading of Torah
Shabbat worship is the rhythm of the week. Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday evening begin at 6:00 p.m. and run until about 6:50 p.m., led by Rabbi Newman Kamin and Cantor Dara Rosenblatt. Services are designed so congregants can daven and then enjoy a leisurely dinner, welcoming Shabbat with family and friends. During summer months, weather permitting, the service moves outdoors into the tented courtyard.
Shabbat morning services begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude around noon. The service features a triennial Torah reading cycle, an interactive D'var Torah and discussion led by Rabbi Newman Kamin, and musical accompaniment. Cantor Rosenblatt often leads from the bimah with her guitar, occasionally joined by a percussionist and other musicians. A light kiddush lunch follows the service, and a Shabbat morning handout is available for those following along.
A weekly Sunday morning minyan meets at 9:15 a.m. and is followed by breakfast. The minyan also takes place on Friday evening and Shabbat morning, and all Jews over the age of thirteen are counted equally, men and women alike, in keeping with the congregation's fully egalitarian practice.
The congregation follows the modern Israeli calendar, with the exception of Rosh Hashanah. Holidays observed include Selichot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Yom HaShoah, and Tisha B'Av. Service times for holidays vary from year to year and are published before each festival. Services are offered in person and on livestream.
The High Holy Days at Two Venues
High Holy Day services take place both at the synagogue and at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, the long-standing High Holiday home that Executive Director Emerita Nancy Holab Nevins negotiated years ago. Members receive tickets through the mail after completing their membership kit, and guest tickets are available for purchase by members.
Rosh Hashanah observances include Erev Rosh Hashanah, two days of services, and Tashlich, held across the street from the synagogue following the second day. Yom Kippur includes Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur Day with Yizkor, Mincha, and the Neilah concluding service, which ends with the sounding of the shofar. Tot services are offered for the youngest children, and family services and childcare are available throughout the High Holy Days.
Dress runs dressier than typical Shabbat attire for the High Holy Days - suits or sport coats with dress pants, dress shirts, and ties for men, and dresses, skirts, or dressy pantsuits for women. Parking at the synagogue includes the Am Yisrael lot, the New Trier parking lots across the street, and VIP accessible spaces. For services at the North Shore Center, parking and accessible entry details are available through the venue. Security has been coordinated with the ADL, local police, the Secure Community Network of JUF, and neighboring congregations. Tickets are checked and stubs collected at every service.
Scroll 672: The Czech Memorial Torah of Humpolec
Among the most sacred objects in the building is Scroll number 672, the Czech Memorial Torah that has been at Am Yisrael since November 6, 1970. The scroll once belonged to the synagogue in Humpolec, a village about an hour southeast of Prague. In June 1942, the Jewish residents of Humpolec were transported to Kolín and then to Theresienstadt, and from there to the death camps at Trawniki, Treblinka, and Auschwitz. Of the 148 Jewish residents recorded in a 1939 census, only one survived the war. The names of 63 Jews from Humpolec who were killed in the camps are known and remembered.
The Torah scrolls of Humpolec were sent to a warehouse in the Michle synagogue in Prague, where 1,564 scrolls from across Czechoslovakia had been gathered for a planned museum of an extinct Jewish race. Nineteen years after the war, the scrolls were rescued, sealed in five railroad cars, and transported to Westminster Synagogue in London. Many were restored and placed under the care of the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust. Founding Rabbi William Frankel asked for one of the repaired scrolls, and Scroll 672 was flown from London to O'Hare in 1970. The names of Humpolec Jews killed in the camps remain part of the congregation's zikaron, or remembrance, and the scroll is a living link between the destroyed community of Humpolec and Am Yisrael today.
The School of Jewish Studies, Little Sparks, and Lifelong Jewish Learning
The School of Jewish Studies has nurtured a love of Judaism for more than fifty years. Charlie Sherman, who holds a Master's from the William Davidson School at the Jewish Theological Seminary and serves as Head of School, leads a curriculum that introduces students to Jewish holidays, Hebrew, prayer, Torah, history, Israel, and Jewish values through experiences that are both meaningful and age-appropriate. SJS meets on Sundays from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. for focused Hebrew learning. Family Shabbat gatherings run from 10:15 a.m. to noon, followed by a kiddush lunch.
The school organizes classes by level. Kochavim introduces young children to Jewish life through art, play, songs, and storytelling. Gimel builds confidence in Hebrew, Jewish learning, and traditions. Dalet and Hei deepen Hebrew skills and explore Jewish values. Vav prepares students for B'nai Mitzvah through meaningful learning, Hebrew practice, and thoughtful exploration. Zayin continues growth after B'nai Mitzvah with leadership opportunities and deeper Jewish engagement. The Madrichim Team offers older students the chance to mentor younger learners and develop leadership skills. B'Yachad, Hebrew for together, brings SJS students together with Jewish day school students for shared learning and community building.
For the very youngest, Little Sparks serves children ages zero to four and their families. The program features crafts, play, Jewish songs, and seasonal child-friendly food, and is co-sponsored with JBaby Chicago, a program of the Jewish United Fund. Little Sparks gatherings take place on selected Sundays and connect Jewish traditions to the present while helping families build new friendships.
Better Together and the Intergenerational Torah Reading
For more than fifteen years, the Intergenerational Torah Reading program has invited children, parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents to prepare and read Torah together. It is among the most treasured traditions at Am Yisrael and a powerful example of how the congregation brings generations into the same service.
Better Together is the congregation's intergenerational initiative, building relationships across ages through the L'Dor VaDor Choir, which pairs teens and older adults around Jewish music, the Better 2 Write guided writing exchange, and community service projects. The program is designed to keep Am Yisrael a place where every age has a role, from the bimah to the choir loft to the kitchen.
Youth: Chaverim, Gesher, AMUSY, and CHUSY
Am Yisrael's youth programming is organized by grade and runs from second grade through high school. Chaverim serves second through fourth graders with fun outings, kosher lunches, and social programs. Past destinations have included The Painted Penguin and Nickel City in Northbrook and bowling in Wilmette and Buffalo Grove.
Gesher serves fifth through seventh graders with programs that build friendships, community, and leadership. AMUSY and CHUSY serve eighth through twelfth graders, with AMUSY lounge nights held at the synagogue on Wednesday evenings following SJS, including a kosher dinner. CHUSY connects Am Yisrael teens with chapters across the Chicago area, Milwaukee, Madison, and Northwest Indiana through the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. A teen leadership board, including a president and vice presidents across communications, outreach, ruach, SATO, and Israel affairs, is elected each year. Two recent teen honorees were recognized by the Jewish United Fund's 18 Under 18 program.
Youth Director Sandra Mieli Kamm oversees the programs. Charlie Sherman serves as the staff contact, and Sam Bolen serves as CHUSY's Chicago Community Director.
Women's Network and Men's Emeritus Group
The Women's Network welcomes women of all ages and stages, connecting through friendship, learning, service, and community. The network runs a Craft Club on Thursday mornings at 9:45 a.m., a Book Club on Friday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., and Mahjong on Saturday afternoons following Shabbat kiddush lunch. The group also organizes a regular speaker series and seasonal socials, including an annual Sukkah Social each fall. Anita Schmidt serves as the contact for the Women's Network.
The Men's Emeritus Group gathers retired men of the congregation monthly for lunch and lively discussion. Jerry Ginsburg coordinates the group.
Adult Education and the Cantor's Current Events Class
Am Yisrael runs adult education both in person and over Zoom. Rabbi Newman Kamin has taught an eight-session Jewish Ethics curriculum developed by the Shalom Hartman Institute, with recordings available for review. Cantor Emeritus Stuart Simon continues a long-running current events class every Thursday from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom, with newcomers always welcome. Cantor Simon trained more than 1,000 students and adults for B'nai Mitzvah ceremonies over his 48-year cantorial career and led prayer at Am Yisrael for 40 years, integrating innovative contemporary sounds, instrumentation, and traditional nusach into the service.
Tikkun Olam: The Ark, Family Promise, and the Misheberach
The congregation takes the mitzvah of Tikkun Olam seriously. Each fall, the Pack the Ark Pantry drive fills a collection pod at the synagogue with kosher food, household essentials, and personal care items for The Ark, which serves more than 5,000 Jewish families and individuals throughout Chicago and Northbrook. Bags are distributed at Kol Nidre and collected afterward; donations can also be made through the congregation's Amazon Wish List. The Ark, a vital lifeline for one in five Jewish households in the community, partners with families along their path to self-reliance with services that are free and confidential.
Am Yisrael also partners with Family Promise of the North Shore, a network of nearly 30 congregations working together to provide temporary housing and support for families experiencing homelessness in Evanston and neighboring communities. Members help by serving dinner, staying overnight during host weeks, and providing food, holiday gifts, and financial support. Family Promise was introduced at Am Yisrael in 2013 through the leadership of Gerry and Claudia Linda. The current site coordinators are Annette Doherty, Aaron Tam, and Elyse Tish.
A Caring Committee supports members through illness, bereavement, and other challenges, and the congregation maintains a Misheberach list, a prayer for healing recited each Shabbat for those facing illness or recovery. Names remain on the list until a family requests their removal. The prayer, offered in Hebrew, English, and transliteration, asks the One who blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah to send a complete healing of body and spirit, a refuah shleimah.
Lifecycle Events, the Funeral Plan, and the Book of Remembrance
Rabbi Newman Kamin and Cantor Rosenblatt officiate at all lifecycle events, including weddings, aufruf ceremonies, bris and naming ceremonies, funerals, and dedications of headstones. For advance planning, the Am Yisrael Funeral Plan uses the services of Shalom Memorial Funeral Home in Arlington Heights and follows traditional Jewish standards, sparing bereaved members the need to visit the funeral home, select a coffin, or make monetary decisions while under the emotional stress of loss. Burial may take place in any Jewish cemetery, and the funeral service may be conducted at the synagogue, graveside, or in the Shalom Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Cemetery fees are not covered by the plan but can be cash-advanced by Shalom Memorial.
Each year, the Book of Remembrance is prepared for the High Holy Days, dedicating pages to the memory of those who have died in the past year, as well as to the congregation's founding rabbi and his wife, past presidents, a former cantor, those who were instrumental in the construction of the buildings, former teachers, and all victims of acts of terrorism. Family entries remember loved ones across generations, and the volume closes with the traditional May their memories be a blessing.
The congregation also maintains a Legacy Society that recognizes individuals and families who have included Am Yisrael in their estate plans, with more than 36 legacy commitments in place and a partnership with the Jewish Federation of Chicago. Wills and estates, life insurance and other gifts, and IRAs and retirement accounts are all accepted forms of legacy giving.
First-Time Visitors: What to Know
First-time visitors at Am Yisrael are welcomed into a Conservative, egalitarian community. Business casual dress is appropriate for B'nai Mitzvah services; for the High Holy Days, the expectation is dressier than typical Shabbat attire. Kippot are available at the entrance for men, and women who wish to wear a tallit are welcome to do so. The building is scent-reduced, and smoking is prohibited on the campus. Photography is not permitted on Shabbat, and phones should be silenced in the sanctuary. Children are always welcome; the community encourages parents to sit near the front so children can follow along, to feel free to step out if a break is needed, and to know that wiggles are part of how kids experience prayer. The building has an elevator and accessible seating.
The regular schedule is simple. Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Shabbat morning on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The Sunday morning minyan at 9:15 a.m. All services are offered in person and on livestream. Members of all backgrounds are welcome to attend lifecycle events and B'nai Mitzvah services, regardless of religious background.
The Selichot sunrise service each year takes place at Tower Beach, offering a meaningful opportunity to pause, look inward, and enter the new year with intention. Summer Palooza brings the community together in the warmer months, and a Purim Carnival fills the synagogue with costumes, laughter, and plenty of fun. A new Casino Night Benefit has begun, with proceeds supporting the congregation's programs. A visit can be scheduled through the Executive Director's office.
The People Who Lead Am Yisrael
The clergy team is led by Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin and Cantor Dara Rosenblatt, who joined the congregation in July 2023 after five years as cantor in Richmond, Virginia. Cantor Rosenblatt is a member of the Cantors Assembly, the Women's Cantors Network, and a Hebrew College alumna. She currently serves on the Board of the Cantors Assembly and the Conservative/Masorti Movement's Social Justice Commission. Cantor Emeritus Stuart Simon continues to host the weekly current events class.
Judy Berkeley joined as Executive Director in August 2025, coming from leadership roles at the Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Am Shalom, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, and most recently B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim. She holds dual master's degrees from the University of Southern California and Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. Charlie Sherman has led the School of Jewish Studies as Head of School since July 2010 and is a recipient of the 2025 Or Zarua Award from the Jewish Educators Assembly. Nancy Holab Nevins, Executive Director Emerita, served the congregation for 34 years and continues to coordinate Shabbat kiddushes into her retirement.
The mission of Am Yisrael is to inspire the spiritual and joyous celebration of Judaism and to nurture a growing Jewish community. We are committed to the Jewish tradition and are affiliated with the Conservative Movement, Rabbi Newman Kamin has written, but we follow the Israeli calendar, use the triennial approach to Torah reading, and incorporate musical instruments in our prayer services. Vera Ginburg, a longtime member, says simply, Growing up in the former Soviet Union and not knowing anything about Judaism, it is Am Yisrael where I learned how to be a Jew. Am Yisrael is my second home.