Welcoming Immigrants

Welcoming the Stranger: Our Commitment to Immigrants & Refugees

Neighbor to Neighbor

On December 3, 2024, the Neighbor to Neighbor committee anxiously awaited the arrival of the Abdulrhaman/Kershu/Khemis family from Sudan. Shaare Emeth, with the help of HIAS, a Jewish organization that provides vital services to refugees, adopted the family with a commitment of support for one year.

The family, Fedwa (Mother), Ismael (Father), Insaf (older daughter), and Ikbal (younger daughter) are so grateful for all of the help that Neighbor to Neighbor provides. They are a lovely family, so warm and welcoming to everyone. Insaf and Ikbal always have smiles on their faces and love to give and receive hugs.

The family quickly adapted to life here with the help of the Neighbor to Neighbor committee, as well as Adam Abdallah from the STL Sudanese Community organization. He has been so generous with his time and translation abilities. He and his family live near the Abdulrhaman/Kershu/Khemis family, so friendships between the families have been a blessing.

Before the family’s arrival, the committee acquired everything the family would need for their new life in St. Louis, thanks to the generous donations from our congregation. An apartment was rented for them, and many volunteers donated their time to help set it up.

Thanks to ESL classes for the parents and school for the girls, their English has improved dramatically. Ikbal missed the cutoff for kindergarten, so she attends Shirley Green Preschool, and Insaf attends Carmen Trails and is in second grade. Both girls are thriving in school, making new friends, and enjoying new experiences.

Neighbor to Neighbor has helped with shopping for food, transportation, doctor appointments, banking, navigating school, finances, helping with programs that provide food, and making sure the girls get some fun outings.

With the help of the committee, Ismael obtained a job at West County Mall in the maintenance department. They are well on their way to becoming independent.

Thank You to Our Congregation Shaare Emeth Volunteers

Melissa Lynn Pomerantz: Lead
Debra Solomon Baker: Volunteer Coordinator and Cultural Orientation
Joelyn Levy: Education
Michelle Gralnick: Documentation Services Benefits
Jodi Miller and Jeffrey Miller: Transportation
Marti Zuckerman: Housing
Judy Willett: Basic Needs
Julie Winkle: Basic Needs
Sharon Remis: Legal Assistance
Stefanie Greenberg: Cultural Orientation and Social Organizer
Debbie Bram: Temple Liaison

The general consensus of the volunteers is that refugees are just looking for a safer, better life for their families, and it is so rewarding to be a part of helping them.

“I joined the committee because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others who needed help, and felt my skill set was applicable to the tasks I was assigned. To whatever extent my services were beneficial, I am happy to have been of assistance.” – Michelle Gralnick

“I had been looking for some meaningful volunteer work now that my kids are basically grown. I had looked at various volunteer opportunities, but many of them entailed stuffing envelopes or other ministerial duties. While I know those tasks are important, I wanted something where I really felt like I was directly making a difference. This committee seemed to fit the bill, and it really appealed to me to be able to help newcomers with their education.” – Joelyn Levy

Former Initiatives

Congregation Shaare Emeth was honored to participate in two separate efforts to support and welcome Afghan refugees to St. Louis. One effort was through the International Institute of St. Louis, and the other in partnership with Parkway United Church of Christ (PUCC) and Turkish American Society of Missouri (TASOM).

The sponsorship with the International Institute was called “Community Support Group.”

The sponsorship with our interfaith partners was called Intertwine Interfaith Welcome Circle (IIWC).

Living Our Jewish Values with Two Afghan Families

For a year and a half, from approximately December 2021 to mid-2023, more than twenty volunteers from Shaare Emeth were involved with welcoming and settling two Afghan Families, the Ebrahimis and the Hashimis.

The commandment to welcome the stranger is repeated more than 36 times in the Torah as a reminder of how important this mitzvah is to our lives.

Betsy Cytron wrote, “Through our experiences with the Hashimis, I learned that this is not just a one-way act of charity: watching the Hashimis thrive in their new environment was a source of great joy and strength for me.”

Janice and Gary Sherman chose to volunteer because, “By welcoming the stranger we are paying it forward for the help that our grandparents received when they immigrated to the US in the early 1900’s.”

The group working with the Ebrahimi family felt they have received more than they have given.

Read more about both families below.

The Ebrahimi Family

On December 21, 2021, our committee of twelve people was excited to meet for the first time at the home of the Ebrahimi family. “The family” includes Toorson, the mom (age 29), Shuja, the dad (age 35), Edris, the new two-month-old baby, Ferazon, the only girl who was two years old, Elias who was 4 and Elhan who was five. No one spoke English. Luckily, an interpreter from the International Institute was present. We communicated with Shuja through an app on his phone which translated between Dari and English. They arrived in the United States because Shuja had worked with the US Army in Afghanistan and had to leave as soon as the Taliban took over.

During our first months we helped by setting up their household with furniture and organization. We purchased groceries and helped make dental and medical appointments. We provided rides, babysat and helped with sewing and cooking. All six members of the family had considerable medical and dental needs.

Shuja passed his Missouri written and driving test and obtained a good job. He badly needed a car, and an Army officer with whom Shuja had worked with in Afghanistan who lived in St. Louis helped raise funds for a car for Shuja, and our group added funds.

Currently, we are providing transportation and babysitting when Toorson, the mother goes to ESOL school four mornings a week in Parkway. One major goal we have is to help Toorson learn English.

Our committee is ably chaired by Marti Zuckerman with experience and wisdom from Stan Shanker.

Thank you to our Congregation Shaare Emeth volunteers: Stephanie Battaglia, Michele Bernstein, Amy Cohen, Jan Fishman, Dan Heymann, Carole Lander, David Lander, Marcene Menendez, Sue Picus, Anna Poger, Sharon Remis, Andy Shanker, Stanford Shanker, and Marti Zuckerman; Chair

The Hashimi Family

Congregation Shaare Emeth, Parkway United Church of Christ, and The Turkish American Society of Missouri joined together to become a Welcome Circle under the auspices of HIAS to assist in the relocation of an Afghan family.

The Hashimi family-Dad Jamshid, Mom-ArZoo and their four children, Yosouf, Younos, Anisa, and Sana arrived in St. Louis on February 14, 2022. Our IIWC (Intertwine Interfaith Welcome Circle) committee had been preparing for several months for their arrival. We created spreadsheets and divided up responsibilities into smaller groups to find housing, school enrollment, ESOL classes, employment etc. When we met them, the emotional impact overtook all our planning. What a lovely family! Only ArZoo spoke English, but the children all communicated very clearly without words!

Along with getting to know each other, the following months were filled with adjustments for the family and lots of work and coordination for the committee. Once we found a nice apartment for them, the kids were enrolled in school and Jamshid and ArZoo enrolled in ESOL classes. The first few months were filled with a lot of driving by our Circle until Jamshid got his Missouri Driver’s License. As women were not allowed to drive in Afghanistan, ArZoo was given driver’s lessons and she finally got her Missouri Driver’s License.

In addition to assistance learning to navigate the school system and grocery stores, apartments, committee members helped them navigate doctor’s appointments, several government programs, private organizations that provide food and other essentials, and fun excursions like playing soccer and visiting the zoo.

Over the course of the year, the Hashimis bought used cars, started jobs and learned a lot about their new life. Early in 2023, the Hashimis made the decision to move to Yuma City, CA where they have relatives and there is a large Afghan community. As they leave St. Louis 13 months after their arrival, both parents have work experience and speak better English, the children are well adjusted and speak English a mile a minute. They will always have a warm place in all of our hearts, and we wish them well as they continue their lives in the United States. L’hitraot: See You later Hashimi Family.

Congregation Shaare Emeth Members of the IIWC: Betsy Cytron, Vera Emmons, Jay Goldstein, Julia Mendelow, Stan Shanker, Gary Sherman, Janice Sherman, Jane Thal, Debbie Bram; Staff

Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman

Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey Stiffman received his undergraduate degree from Loyola College and was ordained in 1965 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology in 1972. He served as Assistant Rabbi of Shaare Emeth from 1965-1968 and was named Senior Rabbi in 1971, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2004, when he was named Rabbi Emeritus. During his tenure, Rabbi Stiffman and his staff instituted many innovative programs of worship, education, and social justice. Rabbi Stiffman and his wife, Arlene, have three adult children and eight grandchildren.

Pronouns: he/him/his

Rabbi Morgan Tobey

Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Morgan Tobey joined the congregation as Assistant Rabbi on July 1, 2026, bringing with her a deep commitment to Jewish learning, leadership, and community building. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Rabbi Tobey’s Jewish journey began during her undergraduate years at the University of Southern California, where her involvement with Hillel introduced her to rabbinical students who challenged her assumptions about Judaism and inspired her own path to the rabbinate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from USC before returning to Dallas, where she worked as an elementary and early childhood educator and served in numerous lay leadership roles at Temple Emanu-El.

Rabbi Tobey was ordained in May 2026 from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, where she also earned a Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature and a Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership from the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. During her time at HUC-JIR, she distinguished herself as a talented leader and community builder, receiving the Burton Lehman Prize in Jewish Leadership, the Sylvia Levenstein Prize in Human Relations, and the Gavi Klonsky Award for Amitz Lev—recognizing spirit, character, and strength of heart. Her rabbinical training included service to the Community Synagogue of Rye, Cornell University Hillel, and her classmates as Student Association President.

Outside of synagogue life, you can find Rabbi Tobey cheering on the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Wings, obsessing over Amy Poehler’s podcast, and planning Disney trips!

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Rabbi Andrew Terkel

Associate Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Andrew Terkel joined Congregation Shaare Emeth as Associate Rabbi in 2026. A warm and relationship-centered Reform rabbi, he is passionate about helping individuals and families find meaning, connection, and belonging through Jewish life. Prior to coming to Shaare Emeth, Rabbi Terkel served as Executive Director of Student to Student, a national program of the Jewish Federations of North America, and previously held leadership roles with Be The Narrative, the Union for Reform Judaism’s NFTY youth movement, Greene Family Camp, and Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina, where he served as Assistant Rabbi.

Rabbi Terkel was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he also earned a Certificate in Jewish Nonprofit Management, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Kansas. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, he credits synagogue life, Jewish camp, and youth groups with shaping his Jewish identity and inspiring his rabbinate. Rabbi Terkel enjoys music, storytelling, and creating meaningful Jewish experiences across generations. He and his wife, Hannah, and their sons, Avi and Micah, have been proud members of the Shaare Emeth community since moving to St. Louis in 2022.

Rabbi Lori Levine

Associate Rabbi & Director of Education of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Lori Levine serves as Associate Rabbi and Director of Education at Congregation Shaare Emeth, overseeing the Religious School and creating connections for our families with children to the wider temple community. Originally from New Jersey, Rabbi Levine was shaped by her years at Jewish summer camp, non-profit work, working as a community organizer, living in Israel on the URJ Heller High program, and volunteer work with elders. She received her undergraduate degree from New York University in European and Mediterranean Studies in 2010. She received her rabbinic ordination and Master’s in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, CA, in 2018.

Rabbi Levine is an experienced and passionate educator with extensive experience in curriculum writing, teacher mentorship, programming, and more. She believes that rigorous, relevant, and joyful learning is the key to creating vibrant Jewish communities and Jewish identities. Rabbi Levine is an active member of the national Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) and Past President of JPro StL. She is married to Joe Ferris and the proud mom of two boys.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Cantor Seth Warner

Cantor of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Cantor Seth Warner, originally from Southern California, has degrees from University of Redlands and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. He was ordained in 2001.

He has served two synagogues with distinction during his career. First, he served the historic Touro Synagogue in New Orleans, weathering Hurricane Katrina and producing Touro’s Jazz Fest Shabbat to high acclaim.

He began serving Congregation Shaare Emeth in 2007. He oversees the Congregation’s music and worship portfolios and leads the B’Mitzvah program, in addition to his other cantorial duties as a full clergy partner with his colleagues.

He currently serves as Immediate Past President of the American Conference of Cantors.

Seth and his wife, Shayna, are the proud parents of two boys.

Pronouns: he/him/his

Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, D.Min

Successor Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Andrea Goldstein received her undergraduate degree in Communications Studies from Northwestern University and was ordained from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1998. In May of 2023, Rabbi Goldstein earned her Doctor of Ministry and her honorary Doctor of Divinity from HUC-JIR. She has served as rabbi at Congregation Shaare Emeth for the past 28 years, and in 2028 she will become the congregation’s first female Senior Rabbi.

Rabbi Goldstein is a graduate of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality’s Rabbinic Leadership Program and the Jewish Mindfulness Meditation Teachers’ Training Program, and she holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Aquinas Institute in St. Louis. In 2018, she founded and became the director of the Jewish Mindfulness Center of St. Louis.

Locally, Rabbi Goldstein is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinic and Cantorial Association, serves on the AccessMO Advisory Board, the NCJW Advisory Council, and the Advisory Committee of the Jewish Fund for Human Needs. Nationally, Rabbi Goldstein is an at-large board member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Rabbi Goldstein’s rabbinate is centered around the creation of sacred community, the call for social justice, and the cultivation of spiritual practices. Rabbi Goldstein is married to Brett Goldstein and is the proud mother of Macey, Eli, and Lila.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Rabbi Jim Bennett

Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rabbi James M. Bennett became Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth in 2004. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and was ordained in 1984 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon ordination, Rabbi Bennett served Shaare Emeth as Assistant and Associate Rabbi from 1984 to 1993. He then served as Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC, from 1993-2003 before returning to St. Louis and Shaare Emeth. Rabbi Bennett has devoted his career to strengthening the involvement of youth and adults in programs of education, social justice, spiritual growth, community building, and interfaith relations. Rabbi Bennett and his wife, Amy, have three children, Abigail, Ethan, and Michelle, and their Labrador Retrievers, Gus and Ophelia.

Pronouns: he/him/his

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.