Two Ethnographic Profiles of Jewish Communities in Chicagoland
Hannah Cardenas
Honors Project: “The Ark: A Jewish Social Services Organization in Chicago”
Honors Course: Honors Introduction to the Study of Religion
Instructor: Charles Townsend
My name is Hannah Cardenas, and I am in my second year at Oakton College. At the end of the spring 2025 semester, I will graduate with an Associate in Arts degree with the Honors Designation. Afterwards, I will transfer to Elmhurst University to pursue a degree in Chemistry with a minor in Philosophy. As an immigrant and a first-generation college student, school has always been a journey that I had to figure out on my own, and because of that, my academic career has not been the traditional path taken by most. However, Oakton College and the Honors Program, specifically, have helped me realize my potential and have given me the confidence to set ambitious goals. With the help of all the wonderful professors from the Honors Program who encouraged me to dive deeper into topics, I have had the chance to find a passion in academia and research. In the future, I hope to continue conducting research at the graduate level, which will allow me to keep learning and become a more educated person.
In Professor Townsend’s Honors Introduction to the Study of Religion class (Fall 2024), I had the opportunity to explore the Jewish community of West Rogers Park and created the following comprehensive site profiles.
The Ark is a Jewish nonprofit social services organization that serves the Jewish population of West Rogers Park. In this profile I conducted several site visits, interviewed the organization’s director of marketing, and created a photo essay of the building. Additionally, I wrote a research essay on the history of the Jewish population in the Chicagoland area, the origins of Jewish social services, and examined the connections between Jewish spirituality and charity.
Congregation Mishne Ugmoro is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. In this profile I include a short history of the congregation, an interview with the president of the synagogue, and a photo essay to highlight unique features of the building.
