Welcome to Congregation Solel!
Solel aspires to be a warm and inclusive Reform Jewish congregation committed to lifelong learning, sacred worship, social justice, and the Jewish people.
In a busy world with countless demands, a congregation needs to fit in to your lives. Congregation Solel becomes part of your being. Wherever you fall on the spiritual spectrum, Solel brings you to a higher place. Continue centuries-old Jewish traditions. Connect with friends who share your values. Raise your children with a sense of identity. Find personal fulfillment through contributing and belonging.
The Solel Name—A Legacy of Leaders
Solel is the Hebrew word for “trailblazer,” which embodies our founding congregants’ vision of a vibrant, pioneering, progressive institution. The trailblazing spirit continues today in a dynamic forward-thinking congregation.
For more information about Congregation Solel or the programs or events features, please call 847-433-3555.
Evan Moffic, Rabbi
Sharon Diaz, Executive Director
Geoffrey Prass, Education Director
Warren Fremling, Choir Director
Phil Orem, Accompanist
Lindsay Schoenberger, Cantorial Soloist
Dov Taylor, Rabbi Emeritus
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July 2009
Located at Forest Park beach in Lake Forest
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Congregation Solel continues its tradition of social action, including a recent town hall with Governort Quinn, held on May 17th. For details, our social justice page and the June Pathfinder describe the events in full.
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Photos of Dr. King’s Visit to Congregation Solel Recovered After Forty-three Years!
Solel History
On January 17, 2009, Congregation Solel commemorated the visit by Martin Luther King, Jr. on June 30, 1966. The North Shore Fellowship of Rabbis had sponsored Dr. King’s speech in our sanctuary. Our event forty three years hence, marking this significant historical benchmark of our congregation, it became itself the subject of an extensive report in the Chicago Tribune (January 16, 2009), written by its correspondent Robert Channick. (To read the Tribune coverage, click here.)
Ever the inquiring reporter, Mr. Channick had raised a question about the existence of photos documenting the historic occasion. Entirely accurately, the Tribune reported our answer: “Solel has no video or photos of King’s visit and there’s no transcript of his speech that night.” Two months later Sharon Diaz, the executive director of our congregation, unexpectedly received a phone call from a staff member in the office of Highland Park’s chief of police. Sharon heard the following disclosure over the telephone: “We read the Tribune report, which reminded us that our files include a small batch of photos, including a candid picture of Dr. King walking through a crowd as he was about to enter the sanctuary.”
For more information concerning this historic discovery, read the full coverage in the May Pathfinder.
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Memory & History: Gospel Choir Concert will Commemorate Dr. King's Visit to Solel in 1966
Loyola University Chicago's Gospel Choir performed at Congregation Solel after the Friday evening Shabbat worship service on January 16, commemorating the visit to our sanctuary by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on June 30, 1966.
The Chicago Tribune (June 25, 1966) reported: "Dr. King will outline the movement to eliminate Chicago slums being conducted by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which he leads."
Dr. King's speech was sponsored by the North Shore Fellowship of Rabbis. At the time he was leading the Chicago Freedom Movement, whose goal was to eradicate substandard residences and to advance the cause of fair housing. A large audience, comprised of residents from several suburban communities, heard Dr. King's speech at Congregation Solel. One congregant has recalled that security was very much evident. The program also included performances by the youth choir of the First Baptist Church of North Chicago as well as Jimmy Collier, a folk singer from Chicago.
A stirring local controversy, played out in the pages of The Deerfield Review (clippings are on file in Congregation Solel's archives), surrounded Dr. King's visit to Highland Park. In the June 29, 1966 issue of the newspaper a letter-to-the-editor written by William Carroll sought to link Dr. King to domestic Communist organizations. Mr. Carroll urged Congregation Solel to invite a representative from the Jewish Society of Americanists to also speak. Milton Bram, a founding member of our congregation, answered this letter in the next issue of The Deerfield Review (July 6, 1966). His cited Rabbi Mordecai Simon, executive director of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, who identified the Jewish Society of Americanists as an affiliate of the John Birch Society. Milton Bram's letter concluded, "Mr. Carroll might consider suggesting to the Birchers that they hire their own hall and have their own meeting."
In the wake of Dr. King's visit, the secretary of the North Shore Fellowship of Rabbis wrote to Congregation Solel. In expressing his gratitude, Rabbi Harold L. Kudan of North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe regarded the event "a very successful program." And Rabbi William Frankel of Beth Hillel Congregation in Wilmette and president of the North Shore Fellowship, termed this occasion as "most memorable."
The January 16 commemoration of Dr. King's visit to Congregation Solel began with a Shabbat Dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a Shabbat worship service at 7 PM, and the gospel choir performance at 7:45 p.m.
Related Articles
Highland Park congregation hosted Martin Luther King, Jr. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/jan/16/local/chi-highland-park-mlkjan16
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On Friday, July 3rd, Join fellow congregants on Friday, July 3th for the first worship service of our Summer Shabbat Series, and Rabbi Evan Moffic's first Solel Kabbalat Shabbat Service.
Shabbat worship continues Saturday, July 4th, at 10:45 a.m.
Weekly Torah Portion -- Chukat Balak, Numbers 19:1 - 25:9
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Please join Congregation Solel for a summer of fun and exciting worship services! Rabbi Evan Moffic will give a sermon each Friday night and we will offer a chance to mingle over wine and cheese before Kabbalat Shabbat services. All Kabbalat Shabbat services start at 6:30 p.m.
Solel congregants and prospective members alike, mark your calendars each week from July 3rd through August 21st! For more information, contact Congregation Solel at 847-433-3555
Friday, July 3rd
6 p.m.—Wine and cheese social
6:30 p.m.—Rabbi Moffic's first Solel Kabbalat Shabbat service
7:15 p.m.—Barbecue with congregants and Rabbi Moffic, and our new Cantorial Soloist, Lindsay Schoenberger
Friday, July 10th*
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat at Forest Beach, in Lake Forest
Bring your beach chairs and beach blankets.
Friday, July 17th
5 p.m.—Open House for New and Prospective Members
5:30 p.m.—Tot Shabbat
6 p.m.—Tot Oneg, plus Wine and Cheese social, featuring a Q &A with Rabbi Moffic and Religious School Director, Geoff Prass
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat service
Friday, July 24th*
6 p.m.—Solel Evening at Ravinia with a Wine and Cheese social
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat service
8 p.m.—CSO performance of Gershwin and Bernstein
(Entrance to Ravinia requires advance tickets, available at their box office; online at www.ravinia.org)
Friday, July 31st
6 p.m.—Wine and Cheese social
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat service
Saturday, August 1st
7:30 p.m.—Solel's Chocolate Havdalah Dessert Night
8 p.m.—Lively discussion lead by Rabbi Moffic
9 p.m.—Havdalah service
Friday, August 7th
6 p.m.—Wine and Cheese social
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat service
Friday, August, 14th
6 p.m.—Wine and Cheese Social
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat service featuring a Youth Service and College Student Blessing
Saturday, August 15th*
10 a.m.—Family Shabbat service at Ravinia
11 a.m.—Tiempo Libre Kids Concert
(Entrance to Ravinia requires advance tickets, available at their box office; online at www.ravinia.org)
Friday, August 21st
6 p.m.—Wine and Cheese Social
6:30 p.m.—Kabbalat Shabbat service
Cantorial Soloist Lindsay Schoenberger will lead us in song.
* In the event of rain, services will be held at Solel.
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