Chicago Loop Synagogue at Open House Chicago

Chicago Loop Synagogue was founded in 1929 to serve the religious needs of Jews who lived, worked and visited downtown, and today it hosts people from around the world. The building was designed by Loebl, Schlossman and Bennett and is considered an excellent example of mid-century modern artchitecture. It was built in 1957 to replace a structure on the same block that had been lost to fire. The entrance is crowned by the Henri Azaz sculpture "Hands of Peace." A wall of stained glass by Abraham Rattner breaks the reserved minimalism of the sanctuary, leading one critic to describe it as "perhaps the most beautiful synagogue interior in the United States." Preservation Chicago has named this architectural gem one of the seven most endangered buildings for 2026. The main sanctuary will be open to visitors along with the lower level beit medresh.