Former Synagogues Map

Before: Beth Jacob Anshe Kroz / Most recently: Faith Deliverance Temple Church Baptist in North Lawndale

Chicago’s many former synagogues are perfect illustrations of the city’s constant of change.

I limited the map mostly to those buildings that were built to be synagogues.  A visual aesthetic sets them apart. In general the near south buildings are the oldest.  They get newer the further west then north and far south as you go.

Unlike the previous Church Conversions Map, I did not limit the structures’ new uses to only non-religious ones.  As Christian churches with their own history, many still play actively important religious roles within their current communities.  Two well known examples, the South Side’s Pilgrim Baptist Church (KAM Synagogue) is known as the birthplace of gospel music and the West Side’s Stone Temple Church (First Roumanian Congregation) played host to Dr. Martin Luther King.

Other current uses include youth clubs, mosques, and one museum dedicated to leather and bondage.

The marker information:

• years as a synagogue
• its use today and a informative link
• a link to Frederick J  Nachman’s Flickr

Frederick has graciously allowed me to link to his 2009 Chicago’s former synagogues photo project.  The photos are collected in his 2013 book There Used to Be a Synagogue Here.

This map can be pretty volatile. In fact, one former synagogue that was on this map has been torn down between the start and publish date.  If you see any mistakes or updates that need to be addressed let me know in the comment section.

Find this map with other points of interest on The Map  or contact me for a guided bike tour that includes these locations.

Sources: Chicago’s Forgotten Synagogues (Robert A Packer, 2007), Fredrick J  Nachman’s Flickr, ChicagoAncestors.org, icons by Icons8.