Congregation Beth Shalom

As the only Conservative synagogue in the Oak Park/​Huntington Woods area, Beth Shalom plays an important role for me and the community. It is a very friendly place with great clergy (Rabbi Bob Gamer, Cantor Sam Greenbaum and Rabbie Emeritus, David Nelson) and helpful office staff. Members are encouraged to wear nametags on Saturday morning so that people get to know each other. There are frequently kiddush lunches after services. There is a first rate pre-​school plus a Hebrew School that seems to get better every year. While there is a large older contingent, there seems to be a growing number of young families becoming active. Worth checking out!

For some reason, probably to please my grandparents, my family still belongs to CBS. Apparently, the new rabbi is wonderful, but the former rabbi was less than, and the religious school (which has hopefully changed) was way subpar. Sure, I learned how to read biblical Hebrew in the 2^nd grade, but I was never taught the meaning behind it. Instead of making me appreciate where I stood religiously, it made me want to be less observant. I didn’t pick up an interest in Judaism until high school when I had no commitment to a religious education program. The only thing that keeps me coming back is Cantor Greenbaum and his unique voice that lends itself to the chanted prayers. Other than that, I’d easily join a different synagogue.

On the one hand, a childhood of Saturdays and Sundays spent here turned me into an Atheist. On the other hand, my grandmother sure has a hell of time every week.