In 1959, a small group of Chicago Police Officers of the Jewish faith created the Shomrim Society of Illinois.
Law enforcement was not a traditional career path for young Jewish men and women. Jews gravitated towards law enforcement in the depression-era of the early 1930s as police jobs typically offered secure employment. As society changed and evolved, small groups of Jewish men began joining police departments throughout the country.
Recognizing the need to provide Jewish members of the Chicago Police Department at that time a “home” where they could meet others of the same religion and profession, the Shomrim Society was born. The name, “Shomrim” is derived from the Hebrew word, “Shomer,” meaning “guardian” or “watchman.” Originally regular membership was restricted to full-time Chicago police officers of the Jewish faith. In the 60s, membership was opened to Jewish suburban, County, State, and Federal law enforcement officers. The first female Jewish law enforcement officer joined the Shomrim Society in the mid-70s as police departments throughout the country began accepting women in their ranks.
Other ethnic groups in the Chicago Police Department soon followed the lead of the Shomrim Society, creating organizations such as the Polish American Police Association (PAPA), the Emerald Society, the German American Police Association (GAPA), the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the Latin American Police Association (LAPA) and the Asian American Law Enforcement Association (AALEA). The Shomrim Society remains the oldest ethnic and religious organization in the Chicagoland area.
In 1985, the Shomrim Society of Illinois Endowment Fund was created to award educational scholarships to the children and grandchildren of law enforcement officers. This 501(c)(3) sister organization to the Shomrim Society of Illinois has given close to $180,000 in education grants since its inception.
In the 2000s, the Shomrim Society expanded its regular membership from strictly law enforcement officers to include full-time Jewish firefighters, paramedics, and 9-1-1 telecommunicators, thus becoming an organization of “First Responders.” Associate membership is open to those Jewish non-sworn members of the criminal justice system such as judges and State’s Attorneys. Finally, honorary membership is available to others, both Jewish and non-Jewish who wish to support the Shomrim Society.
The Shomrim Society is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of eight officers and fourteen trustees, all elected by the membership. Our meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. Our Chaplain and spiritual leader is Rabbi Moshe Wolf, a prominent community leader and a Chicago Police and other agencies’ chaplain. Rabbi Wolf has served the Shomrim Society for over 40 years.
The Shomrim Society holds various events for its members and supporters each year including a “Lox and Bagel Shoot,” a picnic, a golf outing, an annual, “Community Heroes” reception, a Chanukah Party, and other special events.

To learn more about the Shomrim Society of Illinois, please visit our website at www.shomrimillinois.org or visit us on Facebook.