H eadlines
Springfield, Illinois: Lincoln Still Lives Here
T RAV EL
JEFF AND VIRGINIA ORENSTEIN |
JE FEATURE
Note: We recommended
that travelers should continue
to follow the latest Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
guidelines, and check with
each mode of transportation
and specific venue of interest
for current information before
traveling. Check visitspringfiel-
dillinois.com/BlogDetails.aspx/ Latest_News_on_COVID-19.

SPRINGFIELD IS THE state
capital of Illinois and former
home of Abraham Lincoln. It is
a delightful medium-sized city
that looks and feels quintes-
sentially Midwestern, while it
celebrates its Lincoln heritage.

Its downtown area is compact,
walkable and full of fascinating
history and hospitality.

As Springfield’s most
famous citizen, Lincoln is
remembered and celebrated
throughout the town. The
Lincoln Presidential Library
and Museum is a not-to-be-
missed attraction that tells
the story of Lincoln and his
times with vivid sights, sounds
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is one of the
best presidential memorial and interpretive sites in the nation. It is full of
educational displays presented in modern high-tech fashion.

Photos by Jeff Orenstein
and interactive multimedia
displays. The National Park
Service also maintains a
historical site and ranger-es-
corted tours nearby at Lincoln’s
Springfield home. Numerous
other Lincoln-oriented attrac-
tions dot the region.

Historic Route
66’s original 1926 alignment came
directly through Springfield
and brought so many to and
through the city, helping to
increase interest. The Cozy
Dog Drive In and the Route
66 Motorheads Bar, Grill &
Museum are good places to
explore that celebrated road’s
history and sample some of its
kitschy delicacies like the Cozy
Dog hot dog on a stick.

Because it is home to the
Illinois state government,
today’s Springfield is dominated
by state buildings and business.

The tallest building in town
is the Illinois State Capitol
which is remarkable for its lush
furnishings and its Renaissance
Revival and Second Empire
style. Barack Obama started his
political career there. The nearby
Old State Capitol was where
Abraham Lincoln made his
famous “A house divided against
itself cannot stand” speech.

The present Illinois State Capitol dominates the Springfield skyline and
is the sixth building to house the state’s government. Tours are available.

Be sure to stop by the
downtown visitor’s center
(once home to the Lincoln-
Herndon law office) and get
your free Explorer Passport to
local attractions.

Springfield is a recom-
mended destination because
of its history and comfortable
ambiance. It’s a good place to
visit in its own right, and if your
road or train travels take you
along the path from Chicago to
St. Louis, Springfield is a worth-
while way stop that merits at
least an overnight stay.

Before You Go:
• visitspringfieldillinois.com/
• facebook.com/
VisitSpringfield/ • midwestliving.com/travel/
Jewish Springfield
SINCE SPRINGFIELD IS THE HEART of the
Land of Lincoln, it is worth noting that Lincoln
declared in a public conversation in 1863 that he
had “a high regard for the Jews” and had close and
enduring friendships and political alliances with
several Jews during his days in New Salem and
Springfield, including Abraham Jonas and Julius
Hammerslough. Springfield has almost 1,000 Jews out of a popula-
tion of about 113,000 making it a small — but active
— Jewish community. According to a history by
Rabbi Barry Marks, Springfield’s original Jewish
settlers arrived in the 1850s. The first congregation
was the Springfield Hebrew Congregation, dating
to 1858, composed of predominantly German
immigrants. The group evolved into the Reform
Temple B’rith Sholom and built a synagogue on
North Fifth Street.

Eastern European Jews began arriving in
Springfield in the 1880s. In 1895, they bought a
10 SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
former Methodist Church on the southeast corner
of Seventh and Mason streets and adapted it for use
as synagogue B’nai Abraham.

In the 20th century, many prosperous German
Jews migrated to the Aristocracy Hill neighborhood
south of downtown. Temple B’rith Sholom built a
new synagogue in 1917 in the Classical Revival style
on South Fourth Street, which it still uses. The East
European Jews lived north and east of downtown on
Jefferson, Mason, Reynolds and Carpenter streets.

Despite the Great Depression, both congregations
flourished in the 1930s when Illinois got its first
Jewish governor, Henry Horner. (Samuel Shapiro
was its second and only other.) B’nai Abraham’s
then-new synagogue was completed in the late
1930s. It is now called Temple Israel.

In 1981, the two congregations merged their
Sunday school programs and formed the Springfield
Board of Jewish Education, and Temple Israel and
Temple B’rith Sholom cooperate in other joint
JEWISH EXPONENT
endeavors. A Springfield Chabad congregation was
founded in 2016.

Most of the Jewish young men (and some women)
of service age were in the armed forces during World
War II; six were casualties. The Jewish Federation of
Springfield was founded in 1941 as the charitable,
cultural and philanthropic arm of Springfield Jewry
and represents the entire Jewish community. Other
local Jewish organizations include a chapter of
Hadassah and a B’nai B’rith lodge.

The 1970s saw growth for the Springfield Jewish
community. New universities and Illinois state
government brought many young Jewish profes-
sionals (especially from the Chicago and St. Louis
areas) to Springfield. Local Jews are prominent in
the legal and medical professions, as well as in the
leadership of local community organizations.

Today, Springfield’s Jewish community remains
small but significant to area Jews. l
— Jeff and Virginia Orenstein
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



H eadlines
Lincoln Capital Airport
(SPI), 4.3 miles away.

• By train, the Amtrak
station is right in
downtown Springfield
(a short walk from the
Lincoln Library) and has
frequent service to and
from Chicago and daily
to St. Louis and points in
Texas. • Since Springfield is an
inland city, there are no
ocean cruise connections.

local microbrewery like
downtown’s Obed and
Isaacs. • Lincoln’s New Salem
Historical Site
• Route 66 Motorheads Bar,
Grill & Museum
than many tourist attractions,
especially when the legislature
is in session. Neat casual is
always acceptable.

This Destination at a Glance
Over 50 Advantage: Enjoy
history and a laid-back,
If You Have Several Days:
friendly Midwestern ambiance.

• Tour the Illinois State
Mobility Level: Moderate.

Capitol with guide.

Some attractions require
• Route 66 attractions (Cozy substantial walking and some
Dog, Route 66 Motorheads, stairs.

etc.) When to Go: Year-round.

• A Lincoln ghost walk
Winters are cold, and summer
The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates are memorialized vividly with the
Lincoln Museum.

Must-Sees and Dos for a Short
(springfieldwalks.com) can be hot and humid.

Trip: • Dana-Thomas House
Where to Stay: We loved
• The Abraham Lincoln
(Frank Lloyd Wright
illinois/springfield-illinois/ pUHvPg (Lincoln)
our stay at the Inn at 835
Presidential Library and
architecture) top-things-to-do-spring-
Boutique Hotel. There are a few
Museum •
Tour the Illinois Governor’s outside steps, but the interior
field-illinois/ Getting There:
Mansion. • visittheusa.com/
Springfield can be easily • Lincoln Home National
has an elevator.

Historical Site
Special Travel Interests:
destination/ reached by highway, air or train.

• The
Old State
Capitol Ginny
O’s Tips
for Dressing
Abraham Lincoln, Route 66,
springfield-illinois • By car, Springfield is at the
• The
Lincoln Tomb
the Simply
Smart Travel
Illinois government.

• illinoisroute66.org/
intersection of Interstate 72
l • Enjoy a poutine-like
Way for Springfield: This
springfield-il/ and Interstate 55.

horseshoe sandwich
is a capital city, so the dress Jeffrey and Virginia Orenstein are
• youtube.com/channel/
• By air, the nearest commer-
is a little more business-like travel writers from Sarasota, Florida.

(local delicacy)
at a
UCGYWETpnJkTYQB_y_ cial airport is Abraham
Phillies Acknowledge Rosh
Hashanah Via Twitter
L OCA L
Exclusive Women’s Apparel Boutique
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
THE PHILADELPHIA
Phillies probably won’t win the
World Series this year. But on
Sept. 6, shortly after 7 p.m.,
they did do at least one thing
that no other Major League
Baseball team did this year.

On Twitter, the Phillies
wished their Jewish fans
“L’shanah tovah and happy
#RoshHashanah!” Beneath that caption, the
team posted a picture of the
sun setting behind the score-
board at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies page on the sports
blog Fansided, That Ball’s
Outta Here, first reported this
story. The Philadelphia area has
one of the largest Jewish popula-
tions in the United States,
with many estimates placing
Philadelphia behind only New
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Made in USA
Custom designs, color options and
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Evening Gowns
Suits/Separates Cocktail Dresses
Citizens Bank Park
York and Los Angeles. But the
New York Yankees, Mets and
Los Angeles Dodgers, among
other MLB teams in areas
with large Jewish populations,
did not make Rosh Hashanah
posts this year.

“Holidays are a universal
opportunity to interact in a
positive way with different
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Phillies
segments of your fan base,” said
Michael Harris, the Phillies’
vice president of marketing
and new media.

Harris said the Phillies have
also posted for Christmas,
Kwanzaa and several other
holidays that honor the heritage
See Phillies, Page 21
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61 Buck Road
Huntingdon Valley,
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www.elanaboutique.com (215)953-8820
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SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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