Irwin Friedman

In the spirit of working together to provide synergy in the South Suburbs of Chicago, the Cooperative Jewish Council includes south suburban synagogues, the Jewish Federation of Chicago, the Jewish Community Center (Southern Region), B’nai Brith, National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah. The CJC promotes communication and cooperation among these institutions and behalf of a Jewish community of approximately 12,000 people who live in the south suburbs of Chicago, as well as the growing southwest suburbs, along the I-80 corridor.

The leaders of these local organizations work together on joint programming, to support each other’s activities and to strengthen the services offered for Jews in the south suburbs. The Cooperative Jewish Council produces a community newsletter, hosts community-wide Shabbat events and offers interesting speakers and programs throughout the year.

While in some communities, similar organizations may choose to be more competitive and divisive, the spirit of cooperation embodied in the Cooperative Jewish Council is indicative of life in the south suburbs of Chicago. The tight-knit Jewish community,bined with the wonderful lifestyle possible in Chicago’s south suburbs make Homewood, Flossmoor and the surrounding towns an ideal place to live, commute to downtown and raise a family.