On December 3, 2018, the state of Illinois will celebrate its bicentennial-two hundred years of statehood.

To commemorate this milestone, the Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) is embarking on a special project called Beyond Chicago: Illinois Jewish Roots to collect and share the stories of Jewish families with Illinois origins beyond the Chicago metropolitan area.

It is a chance, explains Leah Axelrod, CJHS board member and president of the Illinois State Historical Society, for the local Jewish people “to take stock in their lives and in their communities.” “Now,” elaborates CJHS co-president, Dr. Rachelle Gold, “is an occasion for Chicago Jewish historians to explore and acknowledge the contributions of Jews who lived beyond our local borders.”

While largely untouched by history books, the rural Jewish narrative is a familiar one: courageous people leaving their home country to build a new and prosperous life in America. Many such immigrants were drawn to the nation’s big cities, which promised greater opportunities for employment and community. But moving to large cities like Chicago, even in the city’s early days, was expensive. If you didn’t have much money or family ties to the area, moving to smaller country towns was a safer economical choice.

It was also a very brave choice. More often than not, Jews who settled in small towns during the 1800s were one of, at most, a handful of other Jewish families. Sometimes, they were the only Jews in the area-a reality that made it challenging to maintain a Jewish identity.

Yet, despite these and countless other challenges, the Jewish people persevered. They built homes and families; entered new industries; founded tight-knit Jewish communities; and built rapport with their non-Jewish neighbors-in some cases, even becoming local community leaders. Many opened dry goods stores; became traders; and served their communities as tailors, lawyers, and doctors. These professions, explains Dr. Gold, are common among Jews as a “migratory people.” For centuries, the Jewish people have relied upon portable skills for income and to positively impact their community.

One man who did just that was named Abraham Jonas. Born in England in 1801, Jonas came to New York as a young man and then made his home in Williamstown, Ky. by way of Cincinnati. In 1836, Jonas moved to Adams County, Ill., becoming the state’s first Jewish resident. Together, Jonas and his brothers ran an iron and carriage business, but before long, Jonas left the business to pursue an interest in law. By 1843, Jonas opened his own law partnership and was elected to the state legislature.

He was also appointed postmaster of Quincy, Ill., by U.S. presidents Taylor, Fillmore, and his dear friend, Abraham Lincoln. Jonas helped arrange the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate in Quincy and supported Lincoln in his candidacy for president. A more detailed account of Jonas’ history can be found in the fall issue of the CJHS quarterly journal, Chicago Jewish History.

Through the Beyond Chicago project, the Society hopes to collect and share more stories, like Jonas’, about remarkable Jewish pioneers across the state of Illinois. In addition to demonstrating that the Illinois Jewish history is not confined to big cities, “we hope our readers will be inspired by the enterprise of our people,” says Bev Chubat, editor and designer of Chicago Jewish History. “We did, and we do go into unknown places, new industries…we are a forward-looking people. We should know our history.”

The project begins with the Spring 2018 issue of Chicago Jewish History, which is available to members in print, or online at www.chicagojewishhistory.org . Each quarter of Illinois’ bicentennial year, CJHS will publish a few new stories. Those interested in contributing to the project can send their stories, photographs and other materials to [email protected] .

The Chicago Jewish Historical Society was founded in 1977 and is in part an outgrowth of local Jewish participation in the United States Bicentennial Celebration of 1976 at the Museum of Science and Industry by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the Jewish American Congress. After celebrating its fortieth year, the Society’s unique mission continues to be the discovery, collection, and dissemination of information about the Jewish experience in Chicago through publications, open meetings, tours, and outreach to youth.

For more information on the Chicago Jewish Historical Society, visit www.chicagojewishhistory.org .

Jenna Cohen serves as Grants and Planning Associate for Jewish Child & Family Services and is a freelance writer living in Chicago.