KAM (Kehilath Anshe Maarav) Isaiah Israel is the oldest Jewish congregation in the Midwest and thier leaders, members and buildings have played an important role in Jewish history, American social justice movements and architectural history. KAM was founded in 1847 and had several locations within Chicago before settling in Hyde Park. In 1971, KAM merged with Temple Isaiah Israel and moved into Isaiah Israel’s building on East Hyde Park Boulevard. The synagogue’s architecture was inspired by Byzantine structures and an ancient synagogue in Tiberias, Israel—though there is also a groovy midcentury chapel. In 2009, the congregation founded an interfaith food justice program which annually grows thousands of pounds of food for those in need on Chicago's South Side.
Visitor Experience
The KAM Isaiah Israel congregation is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Visit the sanctuary and modern chapel, and trace the congregation's origins back to the present-day site of Federal Center in Chicago's Loop.
