Home Events & Programs Our Annual Wake-Up Call: What the Shofar Asks of Us

Our Annual Wake-Up Call: What the Shofar Asks of Us

During the month of Elul, as we prepare for the High Holy Days, our tradition calls us to hear the sound of the shofar. The shofar is more than a ritual instrument; it is Judaism’s annual wake-up call.

Come explore the meaning behind this ancient practice and discover ways to make listening to the shofar part of your own Elul journey. This is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the shofar’s message and learn how the practice of listening can bring greater meaning, intention, and reflection to the month of Elul.

Continue the experience with a shofar clinic! Stay after the program for an optional shofar clinic with Betsy Cytron. Bring your own shofar and learn the techniques behind sounding the calls that have awakened Jewish hearts for generations. Beginners and experienced blowers are welcome.

RSVPs Appreciated

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Hourly Schedule

Sunday, August 30

9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Breakfast Nosh
Join us for bagels, cream cheese, coffee, and schmoozing.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Program
11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Shofar Clinic
Date
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Time
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Location
Congregation Shaare Emeth
11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141
Category

ABOUT

Leanne & Harvey Schneider

2026 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Harvey and Leanne Schneider have devoted their lives to strengthening both the Jewish and broader St. Louis communities through leadership, service, education, and a deep commitment to bringing people together.

A St. Louis native, Harvey Schneider attended local public schools before earning both his undergraduate business degree and law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Following graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as a trial attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. After five years of federal service, he returned to St. Louis and became a partner in private law practice. Over a legal career spanning more than five decades, Harvey represented family-owned businesses and private individuals in a wide range of business matters.

Harvey’s commitment to civic and Jewish communal life has been equally extensive. He has served as President of Congregation Shaare Emeth, the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis, the Central Agency for Jewish Education, the Little Symphony Concerts Association, and the Forever Young Club at the Missouri Athletic Club. In addition, he dedicated 26 years to public service on the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Town and Country, including three years as chairman.

After graduating from Washington University, Leanne Schneider spent a year studying in France. Upon her return to St. Louis, she became deeply involved in international student exchange programs, first with the Experiment in International Living and later with AFS, fostering cross-cultural understanding and lifelong connections among people of different backgrounds. This commitment to building bridges naturally extended to her involvement with the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.

Leanne also taught French and Spanish at Brittany Junior High School before she and Harvey started their family. Throughout the years, she has shared her passion for education and community service by tutoring New Americans through the English Language School, serving on Congregation Shaare Emeth’s first Caring Committee, and volunteering as a reader with Ready Readers. Today, she continues to nurture her love of learning and literature through a book club that includes many members of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Together, Harvey and Leanne have exemplified a lifetime of generosity, service, and leadership. Their dedication to education, interfaith understanding, civic engagement, and Jewish communal life has enriched countless lives throughout St. Louis. They are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of four, and their enduring legacy continues to inspire future generations.