Tue Sep 10 16:38:00 UTC 2024: ## Chicago Synagogue Motivates Hundreds to Read Torah, Bucking National Trend
**HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., Sept. 10, 2024** – While synagogue attendance nationwide declines, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, Illinois, has bucked the trend by inspiring over 200 members to read from the Torah scroll.
The synagogue’s “Back-to-Shul Challenge: Everyone Reads Torah!” program, launched in 2021, has seen tremendous success in engaging members of all ages in the ancient practice.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment,” said Arnold Eisen, former Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary. “This is a project that any synagogue of any denomination can make its own.”
Beth El has offered classes on Torah chanting and outreach programs for children, leading to a diverse group of readers ranging from 13-year-olds celebrating their Bar or Bat Mitzvah to a 98-year-old congregant marking the anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah.
“When you’re chanting the Torah, you take part in a ritual more than 3,000 years old, and the Torah magically becomes part of you,” added Eisen.
The synagogue’s innovative approach has not only boosted participation in traditional rituals but also fostered a sense of community and connection.
“The sweet token [sugar cookie] is a symbol of the goodness that’s reflected when people take the time to read Torah and thereby work to repair the world,” said Rabbi Michael Schwab, Beth El’s senior rabbi.
With its commitment to inclusivity and engagement, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El serves as a model for other synagogues looking to revitalize their communities and preserve ancient traditions.
First Piper 