Beth Emet In Evanston Combines With Temple Judea Mizpah In Skokie

EVANSTON, IL — Rosh Hashanah services this week at Evanston's leading Reform synagogue Sunday marked the start of a new era, as Beth Emet The Free Synagogue welcomed members of Skokie's Temple Judea Mizpah into a new combined congregation for the first time to mark the start of the year 5779.

Judea Mizpah's 64-year history at its Skokie synagogue came to a close Sept. 7 with its final service and a celebration. Then on Sept. 9, Beth Emet inaugurated a newly remodeled space and ushered in Judea Mizpah members with a special ritual. Representatives of both temples said the coming together at would provide a positive future for Reform Judaism in the north suburbs.

Many Reform congregations in the area have seen a recent decline in membership, Pioneer Press reported. The president of Temple Judea Mizpah said the Orthodox community is growing, but Conservative and Reform congregations are not, according to the Skokie Review. And members of the Judea Mizpah community told Pioneer Press the temple had around 700 members at its peak. Today, it has 120. Beth Emet currently has about 650 members.

Temple Judea Mizpah recently sold its property at 8610 Niles Center Road to Arie Crown Hebrew Day School, Pioneer Press reported. The school had been leasing space at the site for the past five years, temple leaders told the paper. Not only will the longtime synagogue stay in the Jewish community, but Judea Mizpah staff will remain part of the consolidated community at Beth Emet's 1224 Dempster St. location.

Services will be conducted by Rabbi Andrea C. London, Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler, Rabbi Emeritus Peter Knobel, Cantor Richard Cohn, and Cantorial Soloist Shawna Rosen, according to Beth Emet.

Read more from Pioneer Press »