Keshet LGBTQ+

Keshet LGBTQ+ at Shaare Emeth

Congregation Shaare Emeth welcomes all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, as full participants in Temple life. We are excited to celebrate all milestones and lifecycle moments, including marriages, baby namings, and more, with members who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or questioning.

Celebrate Pride with Congregation Shaare Emeth

Shaare Your Pride!

Show your pride with these t-shirts created exclusively for Shaare Emeth. Multiple color, cut, and size options are available so you can get one that you'll be sure to love!

Click here to get yours!

We encourage everyone to explore the many local Pride celebrations happening in June and in months to come!

About Shaare Emeth’s Keshet Committee

Keshet means rainbow or קשת in Hebrew. Since 2019, the Keshet Committee has been working toward affirming and welcoming members of the LGBTQ+ community. Our goal is to help the congregation live up to our highest values so that all congregants and prospective members feel they truly belong at Shaare Emeth. With the leadership and partnership of Rabbi Bearman, the Keshet team hosts programming to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion within our congregation and acts as a resource on LGBTQ+ issues to the congregational community.

Keshet Committee Co-Chairs: Leslie Masaki and Michele Siler
Rabbinic Liaison to the Keshet Committee: Rabbi Rachel Bearman

Resources from Shaare Emeth’s Keshet LGBTQ+ Committee

ABOUT

Madeleine Elkins & Harvey Wallace

2025 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Madeleine and Harvey have been cherished members of Congregation Shaare Emeth since 1996. Shortly after their wedding, they began “shul shopping” and quickly found a spiritual home at Shaare Emeth—a community whose warmth and values resonated deeply with them. Since then, they have become pillars of both the congregation and the broader St. Louis community.

Madeleine Elkins built a distinguished 45-year career in the corporate world, with leadership roles in medical supply distribution and law firm financial management. Alongside her professional accomplishments, Madeleine has always made time for meaningful volunteer work. She served on the board of the St. Louis Breast Cancer Coalition and was part of the organizing committee for the JCC Senior Olympics in its early years. Her dedication to Jewish community life is evident in her service on various committees for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, including co-chairing the 2017 L’Chaim Event. In 2022, she and Harvey co-chaired the JCC’s J’la gala, raising vital funds for scholarships. At Shaare Emeth, Madeleine is a compassionate member of the Caring Committee, and in 2025, she joined the board of the American Jewish Committee, continuing her lifelong commitment to advocacy and service.

Harvey Wallace is a trailblazer in the accounting world and a passionate community leader. In 1973, he co-founded Brown Smith Wallace, a firm that grew to become the 77th largest CPA firm in the United States, with 340 team members at the time of its 2021 merger with Armanino LLP. He now brings his expertise to Private Fiduciary Solutions. Harvey’s professional success is matched by his extraordinary record of community service. He has held leadership roles on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of St. Louis (where he served as Chairman from 2015 to 2017), Jewish Family Services, The Magic House (Chairman, 2013–2014), Wyman Center, and the Chancellor’s Council at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. His civic engagement also includes board service with the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the St. Louis Community Foundation, and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center. Harvey has been a dedicated member of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer and was honored with the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants Outstanding Public Service Award.

Madeleine and Harvey are blessed with two sons and daughters-in-law, Brad & Elizabeth Wallace and David & Melissa Wallace, and four grandchildren Emma (23), Katie (19), Miriam (13), and Aaron (11).

Together, Madeleine and Harvey exemplify the spirit of generosity, leadership, and compassion. Their decades of service have touched countless lives and strengthened the fabric of our community. We are proud to honor them with the 2025 Harris Frank Community Service Award.