Congregation Bene Shalom in Skokie, founded by a popular rabbi 53 years ago and known for being a Jewish congregation focused on serving the deaf and hearing impaired as well as the hearing community, closed on Jan. 6. Dwindling membership and decreased funding forced the congregation into the very difficult decision, leaders said. Its building at 4435 Oakton St., Skokie, was sold to Congregation Kol Emeth, which had rented space in the building for 2½ years. The decision to close the congregation, which was founded 53 years ago, was “a process,” said Laura Schwartz, who had been president of the...
Monitoring Antisemitism Intel
