First Jews in Kenosha
Beautiful Kenosha city, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, between two major cities Chicago and Milwaukee, was founded in the mid of 1880s, by settlers from New York. Jewish immigrants joined them in the same period. Soon after, a community took shape and structured itself under the banner of B’nai Zedek.
Jacob Stern, a merchant, became the first Jewish settler in Kenosha. Subsequently, more individuals, including Rabbi Louis Lepkovsky, arrived. In 1904, Rabbi Lepkovsky became the first Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Zedek. The congregation held services in various homes, mainly in the Columbus Park neighborhood, known for its predominantly Jewish community with establishments like a Jewish bookstore, kosher butcher shop, and other Jewish businesses.
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Rabbi Louis Lepkovsky
Rabbi Louis Lepkovsky was born in March, 1867 in Novgorod, Poland. When he immigrated to the United States he stayed on the farm of Michael and Sina Milkevitz Grotzky in Pleasant Prairie in Kenosha County. He was a shochet and was welcomed by the handful of Jewish families living there. He became the teacher for the Jewish children in town, and would sometimes walk into the city if there was no ride available. He was shomer Shabbat. He married Miriam Milkevitz, sister of Sina Grotzky. When they moved to Kenosha their home became the center for Jewish and Kosher activities in town. He communicated in Yiddish and ran a completely kosher and orthodox home. In early 1904 he served as the unofficial rabbi of the community and services were held in his (or in other) Jewish homes. He was the first rabbi to serve in the new shul in 1911. He retained the capacity of associate rabbi until his passing in 1947.
History of the building
Recognizing the need for a permanent synagogue in 1910, the community experienced steady growth. Generous contributions from families such as Stern, Epstein, and founders like Mr. Zalman G. Simmons, the mayor of Kenosha who donated $500 from his Kenosha-based Simmons Bedding company, fueled the building fund.
This congregation was started by twelve families. The cornerstone was laid in 1910 and it was completed in 1911. The congregation also owned the adjacent home, serving as a community and educational center, and a social hall. It was later sold in the early 1990s. The congregation also established B’nai Zedek Cemetery, still serving Kenosha’s Jewish community and overseen by an independent cemetery board.
The synagogue attained landmark status in 1999. Preserving its historical integrity, the interior paint remains unchanged since its 1911 construction, except for the banister around the Bima, which shifted from stained oak to white paint. The colors, stained glass windows, and decorations in the shul sanctuary area have been meticulously maintained, reflecting the ambiance of the early 20th century.
The cornerstone was unveiled in 2010 on the shul’s centennial, featuring a time capsule with newspapers, personal items from founding members, and historical artifacts. However, facing declining membership and acknowledging the financial strain of maintaining the original synagogue, the congregation decided in 2014 to sell the building to a developer, who would transform it to a museum and historical site.
Present Jewish Community
By 2010, services shifted to the Rabbi Wilschanski family home, located not far from residences of many regular attendees.
It is with thanks to God and deep dedication and hard comitted work of Rabbi Tzali and Rivkie Wilschanski that Chabad activities grew, many important events were host, Jewish holidays were celebrated, Shabbat services were organized, countless Shabbat dinners were organized in their home, more younger people attending the Synagogue.
All this is and more is being steadily kept up to date. To this is being added the new charming incredibly beautiful facility, the Jewish Chabad centre of Kenosha , surrounded by serene Japanese gardens.
To get more information about the Jewish centre or to contact the Community leader, Wilschanski family please visit the website: https://www.jewishkenosha.com
In Tribute to the Rabbis
- if B’nai Zedek
- Louis Lepkovsky
- Morris Hartman
- M. Medvedoff
- S. Spivak
- Louis Levy
- A.E. Thurman
- Elliott Einhorn
- Harry Shapiro
- Samuel R. Balaban
- David W. Herson
- Naftali Landau
- Henry Lieberman
- Stanley Cohen
- Yosef Samuels
- Eli Karasik
- Tzali Wilschanski