Hoffman Estates' Beth Tikvah marks 50th anniversary

The 50th year is a milestone indeed, a time to look back and relive what used to be in Hoffman Estates, a town that grew up amid cornfields and today stretches itself as a grown-up city.

Beth Tikvah Congregation was born in March of 1957 when 13 Jewish families moved to Schaumburg Township, into houses that would form the nucleus of Hoffman Estates.

Alice Rosenberg, the historian for the synagogue, which belongs to the Union for Reform Jews, explains:

"Nothing as we know it now in Schaumburg Township existed when 13 young Jewish families, most of whom were World War II veterans, bought homes here," Mann said. "Those families started a Sunday school, and by the time of the High Holidays that fall they had grown into Twinbrook Hebrew Congregation."

The name changed to Beth Tikvah shortly thereafter, as it attracted folks from Wood Dale Dundee, Rosenberg said.

Members affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and in three years congregants hired Rabbi Hillel Gamoran, who led them for 34 years. The rabbi established a religious school, and by 1963 the congregation held its High Holiday services in a new building, still standing at 300 Hillcrest Blvd., Hoffman Estates. It's undergone two additions.

Rabbi Max Weiss now leads 325 families in prayer and Shabbat services. There are early childhood through high school programs, adult education, an active social action committee and senior groups. Mike Myers is temple president, and Ilene Kettering and Laura Lindsay share the presidency of the sisterhood.

This year's High Holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur marked the beginning of a yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, with events planned each month.

A major social event will be an entertainment evening featuring Broadway performer and comedian Steve Solomon at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Prairie Center for the Arts, in The Prairie Center, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.

The Damlich-Splansky Foundation, a group of past Beth Tikvah Sisterhood presidents, underwrote the show "The Man, the Music, the Mishuggina."

The Yiddish word meshuge or meshugeneh means crazy or goofy, indicating perhaps that the comedian likes to clown around.

Promoters say Solomon will meet audience members after the show. Refreshments will be available.

Proud of their accomplishments during the past five decades, Rosenberg named some of them.

"A program of scholarships and encouragement sent large numbers of children to Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, the Reform summer camp in Oconomowoc, Wis.," Rosenberg said. "In the early days, Rabbi Gamoran established a three-day-a-week religious school with paid teachers, who were required to attend college classes for certification as religious school teachers. It maintained its high quality throughout the years and students attending its Hebrew program receive high school language credit in District 211."

Further, in Jewish life, Beth Tikvah produced rabbis, educators, camp counselors and leaders in Jewish institutions, Rosenberg said proudly.

Admission costs $18. To reserve tickets, call the temple office at (847) 885-4545.

French week: The Hoffman Estates Sister Cities Commission will celebrate National French Week with "Strokes of Genius," a presentation by Scott Shepherd, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Armstrong School, 1320 Kingsdale Road, Hoffman Estates.

Shepherd will feature French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, said to be "the most universally beloved of the Impressionists." The show will feature slides of Renoir's works, demonstrations of his artistic process using audience volunteers, and a re-enactment of his painting "Luncheon of the Boating Party."

High school students are encouraged to attend the educational program, open to the community for $3 or $6 for a family of three or more. Light refreshments will be available.