Past Sol Shulman Jewish Education & Life Grant Recipients
Dr. Sol Shulman, a long-time professor of chemistry at Illinois State University and Holocaust survivor, left a generous bequest to Illinois Prairie Community Foundation to establish an endowment. His wishes were that distributions from the endowment be used to fund programs that focus on Jewish educational programs and materials, Jewish-themed arts, music, and theater programs, and Jewish cultural enrichment programs in McLean County that are open to all.
8 Sol Shulman Jewish Education & Life Grants totaling $27,760 awarded in 2025
Illinois Symphony Orchestra – $4,000
“ISO Around the Town Performance Celebrating Jewish Music and History” – To honor the legacy of Sol Shulman with a free concert featuring the works of Jewish composers and including a diverse ensemble at the Temple in the 2025-26 season. $4,000
Moses Montefiore Temple – $1,800
“Jewish Film Festival” – Hosted in collaboration with the Normal Theater, the fest aims to provide a multi-generational experience celebrating Jewish values and perspectives; the event offers an opportunity for Jewish and non-Jewish families to connect with the area’s diverse community.
Moses Montefiore Temple – $600
“Literacy for Our Learners” – To provide Jewish literature to youth, fostering a love for learning and enriching families through diverse texts in order to strengthen community connections and promote cultural literacy; PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Moses Montefiore Temple – $3,000
“Music Enrichment at MMT” – To support the culturally significant use of music and musicians during holiday and worship services, community engagement events and religious school Jewish music education and facilitation.
Moses Montefiore Temple – $3,500
“PJ Library Author Alan Silberberg Workshops” – Author will lead workshops at the Temple and Bloomington Public Library, exposing the community to a Jewish award-winning author, cartoonist and children’s TV creator and to increase awareness of Jewish holidays and culture.
Moses Montefiore Temple – $7,695
“Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminar and Teen Trip to Washington, D.C.” – To focus on ways that Jewish teens can help repair (L’Taken) the world at this seminar; attendees will gain knowledge and experience to better serve the community by becoming more effective leaders and developing strong Jewish identities.
Moses Montefiore Temple – $5,370
“Song Leader Boot Camp” – To equip current and future Jewish music leaders with experience and knowledge that will help them inspire meaningful change in music programming, leading to the enrichment of the local community through innovative and impactful music experiences.
Moses Montefiore Temple –$1,795
“The History and Taste of Jewish Delis in Chicago” – Through the author’s interactive and food-enhanced presentations, participants will learn more about the history of Jewish delis in America and Chicago. Chicagoland Jewish delis developed into vibrant gathering places for generations of Jews, and many do not know that story.
6 Sol Shulman Jewish Education & Life Grants totaling $23,500 awarded in 2024
Illinois Symphony Orchestra – $4,000
“ISO Around the Town Performance Celebrating Jewish Music and History” – To honor the legacy of Sol Shulman with a free concert featuring the works of Jewish composers and including a diverse ensemble at Moses Montefiore Temple in the 2024-25 season
Moses Montefiore Temple – $5,000
“Celebration of Jewish Life and Holidays” – To host 6 events yearly, showcasing Jewish culture through music, food and education; events will foster belonging, spiritual growth and education creating a vibrant, inclusive community
Moses Montefiore Temple – $6,000
“Jewish Life and Learning” – To support Jewish education and lifelong learning, creating accessible and inclusive opportunities across all stages of Jewish life through MMT’s Religious School, which provides Jewish education for children and their families
Moses Montefiore Temple – $3,890
“Leading with Love and Music” – To give current and future leaders the opportunity to attend a Jewish leadership training (Songleader Boot Camp), so that they can bring significant change and new learning experiences to the local community
Moses Montefiore Temple – $600
“Literacy for Our Learners” – To provide Jewish literature to youth through PJ Library, fostering a love for learning and enriching families with diverse texts, thereby strengthening community connections and cultural literacy
Moses Montefiore Temple – $4,010
“Sharing Music, Building Community” – To support the culturally significant use of music and musicians during holiday and worship services, community engagement events and religious school Jewish music education and facilitation
2 Sol Shulman Jewish Life and Education Grants totaling $17,870 in 2023
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Inc. - $4,000
"Orchestra Around the Town Free Concert Series" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of Jewish composers through a free concert in fall 2023 or spring 2024 at the temple.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $13,840
"Building a Sacred Community Through Music" - To provide supplemental training and learning experiences for various congregant members and students to serve as song-leaders and leaders.
4 Sol Shulman Jewish Life and Education Grants totaling $20,600 awarded in 2022.
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Inc. - $4,000
"Orchestra Around the Town Free Concert Series" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of Jewish composers through a free concert in fall 2022 or spring 2023 at the Temple.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $6,600
"Jewish Life and Culture Fest" - To increase engagement, education and awareness of the MMT Jewish Community within Bloomington-Normal and surrounding areas.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $3,000
"Music Enrichment/Songleader" - To provide a structured and ongoing program of music enrichment and education to all who attend services and to families and children enrolled in the Religious School.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $7,000
"Tech in the Temple" - To connect to Temple members, bringing them religious, social and education opportunities and expand religious reach outside the walls of the synagogue by purchasing permanent video, streaming and sound equipment for the temple.
4 Shulman Grants totaling $13,500 awarded in 2021
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Inc. - $2,500
"Orchestra Around the Town Free Concert Series" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of Jewish composers through a free concert in fall 2021 or spring 2022 at the Temple.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $3,000
"Music Enrichment/Songleader" - To provide a structured and ongoing program of music enrichment and education to all who attend services and to families and children enrolled in the Religious School.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $5,000
"Tech in the Temple" - To connect to Temple members, bringing them religious, social and education opportunities and expand religious reach outside the walls of the synagogue through the purchase of a permanent video, streaming and sound equipment at the temple.
Regional Office of Education 17 - $3,000
"Mobile Museum of Tolerance" - To engage educators in experiencing the Mobile Museum of Tolerance as a workshop in human behavior where they will witness personal testimonies, engage in facilitated discussions and receive curricular materials developed by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Local educators will collaboratively share and plan to bring these resources to middle and high school students in ROE 17.
6 Shulman Grants totaling $17,495 awarded in 2020
Heartland Productions Inc. - $2,500
"A Shayna Maidel, a Play by Barbara Lebow," a compelling play about two Jewish sisters reunited after the Holocaust in New York in 1946 will be performed in February 2021.
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Inc. - $3,000
"Orchestra Around the Town Free Concert Series" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of Jewish composers through a free concert (in fall 2019 or spring 2020) at the Temple.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $1,390
"Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center" - To create better equity in developing an understanding of the Holocaust; students in the MMT Religious School grades 4-12, in addition to other interested adults, would benefit from the immersive experience of attending the Skokie museum.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $1,050
"Jewish Film Festival" - To provide a fun and educational opportunity to Jewish and non-Jewish families typically disconnected to the dynamic diversity in the surrounding area; festival will offer two movies featuring Jewish values and roles over two weekends.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $4,050
"Jewish Music Enrichment" - To provide a structured and ongoing program of music enrichment and education to all who attend services and to families and children who are enrolled in the Religious School.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $5,505
"Religious Action Center L'Taken Teen Trip to Washington, D.C." - To provide participating teens an opportunity to interact with 2,000 other Jewish teens; attendees will gain knowledge on how to be effective leaders in the Jewish community as well as the community at large.
7 Shulman Grants totaling $22,760 awarded in 2019
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Inc. - $3,000
"Orchestra Around the Town Free Concert Series" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of Jewish composers through a free concert (in fall 2019 or spring 2020) at the Temple.
McLean County Diversity Project - $5,000
"Exploring the Abrahamic Faiths in the Holy Land" - To explore all three Abrahamic faiths and examine where they connect; in June, scholars and team captains will travel to Israel where we will tour sites important to members of all three faiths.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $3,000
"Family Concert of Jewish Music" - To host a Jewish Music Concert for families with children, providing cultural enrichment, exposure to Jewish performers and provide a fun and educational opportunity to Jewish and non-Jewish families in the community.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $550
"Literacy for Our Learners" - To support youth in exploring Jewish text through PJ Library, a national organization dedicated to providing age-appropriate, engaging Jewish text to families around the country.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $5,230
"Jewish Music Enrichment" - To provide music leadership to the Temple through a Cantorial soloist and a Religious School song leader.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $3,480
"Tech in the Temple" - To integrate technology into various programs and services, allowing learning to extend beyond the four walls of the Temple; grant to purchase a portable interactive board, laptop and student Chromebooks.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $2,500
"Union of Reform Jewish (URJ) Biennial Convention" - To provide needs-based assistance to Jewish adults wanting to attend the convention; attendees will gain knowledge on how to become effective leaders in the Jewish community as well as community at large.
5 Shulman Grants totaling $20,625 were awarded in 2018
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Inc. - $3,000
"Orchestra Around the Town Free Concert Series" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of Jewish composers through 2 free concerts (in fall 2018 and in spring 2019) at the Temple.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $3,525
"Consultation on Conscience with the Religious Action Center" - To enhance social justice in our world and our community by sending Rabbi and delegates to Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's Consultation on Conscience in May 2019.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $3,150
"Jewish Film Festival" - To provide cultural enrichment to the local community by viewing contemporary Jewish films at the Normal Theater.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $4,200
"Jewish Music Enrichment" - To provide music leadership to the Temple through a Cantorial soloist and a Religious School song leader.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $6,750
"National Federation of Temple Youth 2019 National Convention" - To provide delegation of Jewish teens leadership training through attendance at the NFTY Convention, creating effective leaders in local Jewish community.
4 Shulman Grants totaling $20,200 were awarded in 2017
Illinois Symphony Orchestra - $3,000
"Bernstein's 100th Celebration and Around the Town at the Temple" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman by partnering with Moses Montefiore Temple to increase awareness of the great Jewish composer, conductor and pianist Leonard Bernstein and the impact his Jewish heritage had on shaping American music.
McLean County Diversity Project - $5,000
"Visiting Auschwitz with a Survivor" - To increase McLean County junior and senior high school students' knowledge of Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust, as well as to increase their understanding of their role in preventing genocide in the future. They will be accompanied on the trip by Holocaust survivor Eva Kor who, along with her twin sister, was a subject of genetic experiments by Josef Mengele at Auschwitz.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $4,000
"Religious Action Center Trip for Youth" - To support the students' trip to The Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C. where they will gain a better understanding of social justice and how they, as young Jewish leaders, can make a difference in the world.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $8,200
"Jewish Music for High Holidays, Monthly Shabbat Services and Religious School" - To provide musical accompaniment to worship services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and to provide song leadership during the calendar years, approximately once per month at services. The Cantorial Soloist/Storyteller will also meet with students and teachers during Religious School to teach them songs and prayers fitting to all of the Jewish holidays and Shabbat services.
2 Shulman Grants totaling $21,000 were awarded in 2016
Illinois Symphony Orchestra - $9,000
"Around the Town at the Temple" and "Light Classics: Celebrating the Life and Music of George Gershwin" - To celebrate the legacy of Sol Shulman as the Concert Sponsor for the Light Classics concert featuring the music of George Gershwin and to pay for a small ensemble from ISO to perform a free Around the Town concert at the Temple open to the public. The Concert Comments and Chat prior to the ISO performances at BCPA and in Springfield will focus on the influence of Gershwin's Jewish heritage on his music.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $12,000
"Musical Programing - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipper and Monthly Song Leadership" - To host a visiting Cantor throughout the High Holiday celebrations and to pay for a Cantorial soloist/story teller who will come to MMT once a month, to lead song during the Shabbat service and to meet 6 times during the year with the Religious School students to teach them songs and prayers that are recited during Friday night and Saturday morning services.
3 Shulman Grants totaling $18,000 were awarded in 2015
Illinois Symphony Orchestra - $5,000
"Mahler - The Impact of His Jewish Heritage on His Music" - To sponsor the symphony concert with a full page ad in the program honoring Saul Shulman's legacy.
McLean County Unit 5's Parkside Junior High School - $6,000
"Remembering the Holocaust" - To provide a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Skokie for 8th grade students as part of their civil rights unit study of the Holocaust.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $7,000
"Cantorial Music Program" - To support the cantorial soloist to lead the musical portion of Sabbath and High Holiday services.
1 Shulman Grant totaling $10,000 was awarded in 2014
Moses Montefiore Temple - $10,000
"Cantorial Music Program" - To provide a salary for a Cantor or Cantorial Student or soloist to lead the musical portion of religious services.
2 Shulman Grants totaling $16,500 was awarded in 2013
Moses Montefiore Temple - $11,000
"Cantorial Music Program" - To provide a salary for a Cantorial Director or soloist to lead the musical portion of religious services.
Moses Montefiore Temple - $5,500
"Rethinking Synagogues - A Scholar in Residence Program with Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman" - To fund a weekend seminar with Rabbi Hoffman, one of the architects of the Synagogue 3000 movement in America, to not only Bloomington congregants, but those from Peoria, Champaign, Springfield, Decatur and Davenport, IA. Hoffman teaches about spirituality beyond ethnicity, Judaism as a lifelong journey beyond the pediatric and geriatric, and community beyond corporation.