New Vernon Hills temple set to open

Rabbi Scott Looper says he's humbled by the generosity of his congregation.

Faced with overcrowding at the Or Shalom temple in Vernon Hills, members raised $5.3 million to build a new synagogue. And that was in the midst of one of the toughest recessions in years.

The project is nearing completion. Regular services should begin in late September. Temple leaders have planned a series of events to coincide with the opening, including a prospective member service set for Aug. 28.

The new 21,000-square-foot building at 21 W. Hawthorn Parkway, is twice the size of the current facility, which sits next door. "There is no wasted space in this building," Looper said. "It's designed for efficiency."

It includes classrooms, a library, social hall and kitchen among other amenities. The sanctuary can seat 300 people. Using movable walls, the room can be expanded to add 200 seats if needed.

The new facility will be busy at least four days a week, Looper said. The 15 classrooms will handle religious instruction for adults and children, along with bar and bat mitzvah preparation sessions. Looper oversees seven full and part-time staff members.

Looper said the architectural style reflects the culture of the congregation.

"There's an abundance of natural light pouring into the sanctuary. It has a very light feeling overall. We didn't want anything heavy or dark," Looper said. "We are fairly informal and the architecture follows that."

Starting with just a handful of folks, the Reform congregation moved to Vernon Hills about 20 years ago. It has grown to include 385 families. Looper said they've been overcrowded for the last five years. The squeeze was hard for current families and not attractive for prospective members, he said.

Looper has been the temple's rabbi for the last 15 years. He said the congregation's benevolence in donating funds for construction is heartening especially in this recession.

"This couldn't have happened without the generosity of our people," he said. "This temple is a testament to that.

Looper said the community is invited to an open house Oct. 4. A formal dedication will be Dec. 11 and includes the lighting of the first candle for the Hanukkah holiday.