Because he took up the law so young, never retired and lived nearly a century, Abraham Shanes may
have been the longest practicing attorney in Illinois.
In 1930, after being prevented from taking the bar exam because he was only 20, he petitioned the
state Supreme Court to waive the rule. The court's favorable decision came down only two days before
the test, which he passed without studying.
Graduating from high school in Erie, Pa., at age 16, he attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago,
where he was admitted to the Order of the Coif.
Mr. Shanes' first law office was in the back room of a radio repair shop. Practicing during the Great
Depression, he saw in court people who had even less money than he, and without collecting a fee
helped many who were being evicted.
In 1937 in a Chicago butcher shop, Mr. Shanes met the owner's daughter Tillie. She worked not only
for her father but as a librarian. And as a self-educated man outside of his profession, Mr. Shanes
found himself spending many hours at the public library.
The couple were married in 1937.
"They were Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers without the dancing," said their grandson Dan Shanes.
Mr. Shanes later moved his practice to La Salle Street. His clients included such radio stations as WAIT,
WXRT and the now- defunct WSBC. For seven decades he represented Chicago's Talk-a- Phone Co.,
an early international manufacturer of communication equipment.
In 1967 Mr. Shanes and his son, Samuel, formed the law firm of Shanes & Shanes.
Abraham Shanes was president of Temple Menorah, directing the fund- raising and supervising
construction of the building that houses the synagogue today at 2800 W. Sherwin. He served on the
Israel Bonds board of trustees and frequently traveled to Israel with his wife, children and
grandchildren.
have been the longest practicing attorney in Illinois.
In 1930, after being prevented from taking the bar exam because he was only 20, he petitioned the
state Supreme Court to waive the rule. The court's favorable decision came down only two days before
the test, which he passed without studying.
Graduating from high school in Erie, Pa., at age 16, he attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago,
where he was admitted to the Order of the Coif.
Mr. Shanes' first law office was in the back room of a radio repair shop. Practicing during the Great
Depression, he saw in court people who had even less money than he, and without collecting a fee
helped many who were being evicted.
In 1937 in a Chicago butcher shop, Mr. Shanes met the owner's daughter Tillie. She worked not only
for her father but as a librarian. And as a self-educated man outside of his profession, Mr. Shanes
found himself spending many hours at the public library.
The couple were married in 1937.
"They were Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers without the dancing," said their grandson Dan Shanes.
Mr. Shanes later moved his practice to La Salle Street. His clients included such radio stations as WAIT,
WXRT and the now- defunct WSBC. For seven decades he represented Chicago's Talk-a- Phone Co.,
an early international manufacturer of communication equipment.
In 1967 Mr. Shanes and his son, Samuel, formed the law firm of Shanes & Shanes.
Abraham Shanes was president of Temple Menorah, directing the fund- raising and supervising
construction of the building that houses the synagogue today at 2800 W. Sherwin. He served on the
Israel Bonds board of trustees and frequently traveled to Israel with his wife, children and
grandchildren.
Ralph J. Epstein was President of major Chicago architectural engineering film A. Epstein & Sons
International, until retiring in 1979. Before his retirement, he helped establish the company's
international operations in London, Paris and Tel Aviv, Israel.
During World War II, he was a member of the team chosen to design the first U.S. jet airplane.
Mr. Epstein, who was born in Milwaukee, attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago. He was a
graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he was a Big 10 Conference fencing
champion.
Mr. Epstein was a director of the Standard Club, and a member of both the Chicago and International
Executive Service Corps. As a member of the International Corps, he served three months each in
Indonesia, Portugal and Brazil.
Mr. Epstein was a member of the board of the Jewish Federation and Congregation Kol Ami. As a
board member of the Jewish Vocational Service, he established a school for Russian immigrants,
helping to acquaint them with the engineering profession. He also served as chairman of the building
trades division of the Jewish United Fund.
He was on the board of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, a director of the Chicago Federation of
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and a member of the Chicago Federation Settlement
Center.
In 1985, Mr. Epstein was elected to the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
International, until retiring in 1979. Before his retirement, he helped establish the company's
international operations in London, Paris and Tel Aviv, Israel.
During World War II, he was a member of the team chosen to design the first U.S. jet airplane.
Mr. Epstein, who was born in Milwaukee, attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago. He was a
graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he was a Big 10 Conference fencing
champion.
Mr. Epstein was a director of the Standard Club, and a member of both the Chicago and International
Executive Service Corps. As a member of the International Corps, he served three months each in
Indonesia, Portugal and Brazil.
Mr. Epstein was a member of the board of the Jewish Federation and Congregation Kol Ami. As a
board member of the Jewish Vocational Service, he established a school for Russian immigrants,
helping to acquaint them with the engineering profession. He also served as chairman of the building
trades division of the Jewish United Fund.
He was on the board of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, a director of the Chicago Federation of
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and a member of the Chicago Federation Settlement
Center.
In 1985, Mr. Epstein was elected to the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
Samuel Shanes and Irene Epstein met at the University of Illinois at Champaign. On my father’s 21st
birthday in 1964, they were married. After university, Samuel went on to graduate from University of
Chicago Law School, while Irene earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology from National Lewis
University. Between 1967 and 1977, Samuel and Irene bore five sons. I am the youngest of those
sons. My brothers are: The Honorable Daniel Benjamin Shanes, Robert Ari Shanes, Dr. Joshua Michael
Shanes, and Jacob Chaim Shanes.
birthday in 1964, they were married. After university, Samuel went on to graduate from University of
Chicago Law School, while Irene earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology from National Lewis
University. Between 1967 and 1977, Samuel and Irene bore five sons. I am the youngest of those
sons. My brothers are: The Honorable Daniel Benjamin Shanes, Robert Ari Shanes, Dr. Joshua Michael
Shanes, and Jacob Chaim Shanes.
Jonathan Levi Shanes was born at Michael Reese Hospital on Lake Shore Drive on the South side of
Chicago. He began his formal musical training at age seven with the piano, and two years later
discovered his love for singing – at that moment setting his sights on joining the ranks of the
professional musical arena. As the classical studies continued, from age nine to thirteen Jonathan
studied and performed at Eileen Boevers’ Performing Arts Workshop at Apple Tree Theatre Co. in
Highland Park, IL. By 1991 he was a regular Performer (“The Rothschilds,” 4 Jeff Awards), Assistant
Stage Manager (“Baby,” Jeff Nominated), Assistant Director (“David’s Mother,” Jeff Nominated) and
more at Apple Tree Theatre. Concurrently, Jonathan was deeply involved in every aspect of the
curricular and extra-curricular musical and theatrical activities available at Highland Park High School,
as well as being a honored participant in programs such as ISYM (Illinois Summer Youth Music at
University of Illinois at Champaign, ’92), NHSMI (National High School Music Institute at Northwestern
University, ’93), IMEA (Illinois Music Education Association, ’93, ’94, ’95), and more. In 1995 Jonathan
graduated from Highland Park High School as an Illinois State Scholar.
In 1997 Chicago based band Family of Souls whisked him away from the music program at University
of Illinois at Champaign, leading to a six year stint composing, producing and performing with the
group, an adventure punctuated by a many treasured highlights (spending a year living, recording,
studying and performing in Paris, an extended live television performance on Chicago Bulls season
opening night, thousands of live shows, excellent reviews : “Family of Souls mix an early Stones
groove with a Strokes or Hives like intensity…shift easily from reggae pop to soul ballad” – Richard
Milne, WXRT Chicago).
After the group parted ways in 2003, Jonathan Levi Shanes earned his B.A. in Composition with
Honors from Columbia College of the Arts while working as one of the most sought after session
keyboardists in Chicago. During his studies he took a year studying conflict resolution and gender
studies at Göteborg University in Sweden while continuing session work, and recording an album with
Swedish rock band “Supersloth.”
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2006, Jonathan has worked continuously as a composer, producer,
arranger, orchestrator, copyist, performer and/or engineer. Film and television projects include “The
International” (Tom Tykwer), "Drei" (Tom Tykwer), "Tomorrow When The War Began" (Stuart Beattie),
"Isolated Incident/30 Premeditated Acts" (Dane Cook), “One Missed Call” (Ed Burns), “John From
Cincinnati” (David Milch), “Because I Said So” (Diane Keaton), “The Two Mr. Kissels” (John Stamos),
“Happiness Runs” (Andy MacDowell), “Blackout” (Amber Tamblyn), "The Donner Party" (Crispin Glover),
“Frank TV” (Frank Caliendo), “Anamorph” (Willem Dafoe), "Devil's Kickers" (Granz Henman) and many
more. One of his many responsibilities for "The International" included orchestrating the "End Title"
composed by director Tom Tykwer, composers Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil, and Muse frontman
Matthew Bellamy.
Other projects include celebrated German children’s author Klaus Baumgart’s “Lauras Stern” music
series, composing and producing the bilingual reggae album “Tocayo: Buena Gente,” collaborations
with author, songwriter, and music supervisor David Donohue (“Once”), songwriter and vocalist Beth
Hirsch (“Air”), German singer and producer Nena, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Daniel Pearl World Music
Days, Los Angeles Irish Film Festival, and many, many more. Jonathan is also an Apple Certified Logic
Pro User.
Currently, Jonathan is serving as editor and orchestrator for the full orchestral score to “Perfume: The
Story of a Murderer” for publication and a world tour. Performances have already included The
Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tenerife Film Orchestra and Choir, the Krakow Philharmonic
Orchestra, and more. Multiple other projects are also in progress.
Chicago. He began his formal musical training at age seven with the piano, and two years later
discovered his love for singing – at that moment setting his sights on joining the ranks of the
professional musical arena. As the classical studies continued, from age nine to thirteen Jonathan
studied and performed at Eileen Boevers’ Performing Arts Workshop at Apple Tree Theatre Co. in
Highland Park, IL. By 1991 he was a regular Performer (“The Rothschilds,” 4 Jeff Awards), Assistant
Stage Manager (“Baby,” Jeff Nominated), Assistant Director (“David’s Mother,” Jeff Nominated) and
more at Apple Tree Theatre. Concurrently, Jonathan was deeply involved in every aspect of the
curricular and extra-curricular musical and theatrical activities available at Highland Park High School,
as well as being a honored participant in programs such as ISYM (Illinois Summer Youth Music at
University of Illinois at Champaign, ’92), NHSMI (National High School Music Institute at Northwestern
University, ’93), IMEA (Illinois Music Education Association, ’93, ’94, ’95), and more. In 1995 Jonathan
graduated from Highland Park High School as an Illinois State Scholar.
In 1997 Chicago based band Family of Souls whisked him away from the music program at University
of Illinois at Champaign, leading to a six year stint composing, producing and performing with the
group, an adventure punctuated by a many treasured highlights (spending a year living, recording,
studying and performing in Paris, an extended live television performance on Chicago Bulls season
opening night, thousands of live shows, excellent reviews : “Family of Souls mix an early Stones
groove with a Strokes or Hives like intensity…shift easily from reggae pop to soul ballad” – Richard
Milne, WXRT Chicago).
After the group parted ways in 2003, Jonathan Levi Shanes earned his B.A. in Composition with
Honors from Columbia College of the Arts while working as one of the most sought after session
keyboardists in Chicago. During his studies he took a year studying conflict resolution and gender
studies at Göteborg University in Sweden while continuing session work, and recording an album with
Swedish rock band “Supersloth.”
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2006, Jonathan has worked continuously as a composer, producer,
arranger, orchestrator, copyist, performer and/or engineer. Film and television projects include “The
International” (Tom Tykwer), "Drei" (Tom Tykwer), "Tomorrow When The War Began" (Stuart Beattie),
"Isolated Incident/30 Premeditated Acts" (Dane Cook), “One Missed Call” (Ed Burns), “John From
Cincinnati” (David Milch), “Because I Said So” (Diane Keaton), “The Two Mr. Kissels” (John Stamos),
“Happiness Runs” (Andy MacDowell), “Blackout” (Amber Tamblyn), "The Donner Party" (Crispin Glover),
“Frank TV” (Frank Caliendo), “Anamorph” (Willem Dafoe), "Devil's Kickers" (Granz Henman) and many
more. One of his many responsibilities for "The International" included orchestrating the "End Title"
composed by director Tom Tykwer, composers Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil, and Muse frontman
Matthew Bellamy.
Other projects include celebrated German children’s author Klaus Baumgart’s “Lauras Stern” music
series, composing and producing the bilingual reggae album “Tocayo: Buena Gente,” collaborations
with author, songwriter, and music supervisor David Donohue (“Once”), songwriter and vocalist Beth
Hirsch (“Air”), German singer and producer Nena, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Daniel Pearl World Music
Days, Los Angeles Irish Film Festival, and many, many more. Jonathan is also an Apple Certified Logic
Pro User.
Currently, Jonathan is serving as editor and orchestrator for the full orchestral score to “Perfume: The
Story of a Murderer” for publication and a world tour. Performances have already included The
Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tenerife Film Orchestra and Choir, the Krakow Philharmonic
Orchestra, and more. Multiple other projects are also in progress.
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