home | about us | history of shalom

About Us

History of Shalom

1951

Fourteen families founded “North Shore Temple,” worshipping at white chapel on Wildwood Avenue. June is the official birthday. Harry B. Pastor named Rabbi. Name “Shalom” selected. Membership stood at 102 families.

1952

Board announces $150,000 building fund drive. Membership grows to 339 families.

1954

Groundbreaking in Fox Point for Temple Shalom. Membership at 435 families.

1955

Sanctuary and classrooms dedicated Fall, 1954. First High Holy Day services held in Shalom Sanctuary.

1959

One hundred families resign, but membership begins to rebuild. Hebrew now taught at Shalom.

1962

Permanent sanctuary seating installed. Expansion planning begins.

1964

Membership at 475 families with 600 students in the Religious School. Board votes for $150,000 building expansion program.

1966

Ground broken for expansion. Cost raised to $200,000 and each family assessed $500.

1968

Dedication of extension to building. Cantor hired, first addition to professional staff. Membership at 526 families.

1970

Student Rabbi was Sally Priesand, the first woman to be ordained as a Rabbi.

1973

Membership reaches 575 families. First woman vice-president elected to the Board.

1978

Sanctuary renovation begins. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro hired as Associate Rabbi.

1980

Rabbi Pastor retires and becomes Founding Rabbi. First woman president is elected. Rabbi Shapiro becomes Senior Rabbi.

1982

Wisconsin’s first woman Rabbi, Dena Feingold, hired as Assistant Rabbi; stayed for length of contract.

1983

David R. Pasch Meritorious Service Awards instituted.

1984

Crowded conditions force a change to three High Holy Day services.

1985

Assistant Rabbi Stanley Schickler hired as professional educator.

1987

Cantorial Soloist Karen Berman hired.

1988

Full-time Administrator Jerry Plotkin hired.

1990

Rabbi Greg Wolfe hired as Assistant Rabbi/Director of Education. Membership reaches 900 families. Board initiates expansion/renovation program. Congregation votes to go ahead with program. Board approves $1,000 fair share pledge per family.

1992

Rabbi Isaac Serotta hired as new Rabbi/Educator. The new Harry and Rose Samson Sanctuary, Eder Education Center, David L. Klurfeld Memorial Hall completed.

1993

Cantorial Soloist Karen Berman becomes Cantor Karen Berman. Marc S. Cohen hired as Administrator.

1997

Membership reaches 1,000 families.

1998

Building is again remodeled to accommodate new Assistant Rabbi, Daniel Lehrman. Religious and Hebrew School registration reaches 500 students. Carol & Jim Ross are hired to serve as Interim Directors of Education beginning in June.

1999

Director of Education, Dr. Sherry Blumberg, is hired. Membership reaches 1,100 families.

2000

Rabbi Shari Heinrich is hired as assistant rabbi.

2002

Rabbi Shari Heinrich becomes associate rabbi, marries, and is now addressed as Rabbi Shari Shamah. Sally Lyne hired as Assistant Administrator; Marc Cohen becomes Executive Director.

2003

Rabbi Ronald Shapiro honored for 25 years of service. Sefer Torah written in his honor with help from congregants and scribe Neil Yerman.

2004

Congregation Shalom hires Rabbi Roxanne J.S. Shapiro as Director of Life-Long Learning; Sally Lyne becomes the Director of Development and Synagogue Relations.

2005

Wein Garden Chapel dedicated; Cantor Karen Berman honored for 18 years of service. Abby Habush Schroeder hired as the Assistant Administrator.

2006

The Ungar-Schick Portico is dedicated in June. Abby Habush Schroeder becomes the Director of Synagogue Relations.

2007

Rabbi Joseph W. Prass is hired as Associate Rabbi.