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Our History

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Congregation Or Shalom of Lake County (formerly Hawthorn Jewish Congregation) was incorporated in August 1977 - the fruition of the vision of 15 founding families who dreamed of forming a new congregation and religious school in Lake County. For 10 years, members met at the homes of fellow congregants, a local movie theater, the YMCA and various churches for services and religious school.

 

In 1981, the congregation was renamed Or Shalom, meaning “Light of Peace.” A permanent home was purchased in 1987 at 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills. We are grateful to our founding members for their foresight and generosity that made the dream of a permanent home a reality. As our membership and school grew, modifications and an addition to our building were made until our continued growth necessitated the construction of a new building.

 

In 2009, we moved into our beautiful building which was constructed on land that was our former parking lot. We are proud of our history and the dedication and generosity of past and current members. Our congregation honors the legacy of our founders by ensuring that Or Shalom continues to meet the spiritual, social and educational needs of the Jewish community in our corner of Lake County.

Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784