Rabbi Allen Secher, the founder of our congregation, is the subject of a play to be performed Monday, July 13, at Temple Am Shalom in Glencoe. When the Rabbis Came to Town by Roger Rapoport tells the story of Secher's life as a social justice activist. It focuses on the 1964 arrest of 17 people (16 were rabbis) during a civil rights demonstration and prayer service in St. Augustine, FL. They had traveled to Florida directly from a rabbinical conference when Dr. King appealed for their help from jail.

While in a holding cell, the clergy together wrote a letter titled "Why We Went." On June 19, 1964, two days after the arrests, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress.

Their story will be told in a one-man play with actor Adam Bell as Reb Allen on Monday, July 13, at 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Am Shalom is located at 840 Vernon Ave., Glencoe, IL. Admission is free.

To sign up to attend the play: Register for play

An article on the play, the rabbi, and the events this is all about: Article in JTA