Membership, Congregation Shaare Emeth

You Belong: Membership at Shaare Emeth

We are excited about your interest in becoming a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth. Wherever you are in your Jewish journey, we welcome the opportunity to help you find the connections and opportunities you seek. We are committed to helping people of all backgrounds, life stages, and experiences find a way to participate in our community that works for them.

By becoming a member of Shaare Emeth, you will be joining a holy community that seeks to make Judaism relevant, meaningful, and joyful. We come together to support one another and to repair the world. To learn more about our congregation and what it stands for, check out our mission and our commitments.

We encourage you to browse our website to see all our community has to offer, including worship, holiday observances, education for adults and youth, social justice, and more. Check out our comprehensive list of the dozens of offerings at Shaare Emeth and subscribe to ShaareMail, our weekly e-newsletter, to stay up-to-date on the latest programs, events, and other ways to get involved.

Membership includes access to Shaare Emeth’s caring and skilled clergy for those happy and sad milestones throughout life, discounts on special events and youth programs, and Shaare Emeth’s outstanding religious school (which requires membership beginning in second grade).

Membership Responsibility

Membership Responsibility (MR) is a yearly financial commitment each family contributes to sustain day-to-day operations of the temple. It is a collective responsibility that allows Shaare Emeth to remain strong and accessible to all.

Each year, Shaare Emeth’s leadership establishes a “sustaining amount” based on the average expense of running the synagogue per family. While we hope you will contribute the sustaining amount, we understand there is no “one size fits all.” Shaare Emeth’s MR process does not require this set amount, but rather allows each family to choose their own contribution each year. Many families contribute significantly more than the sustaining amount and many families contribute less. We encourage families to choose an amount that is meaningful for them.

Families can choose to pay their MR monthly or in one lump sum. We also offer several payment methods, including ACH/e-check, credit card, personal check, and IRA/stock.

Building Maintenance Assessment

In addition to Membership Responsibility, all members pay a one-time Building Maintenance Assessment. This assessment allows us to keep our campus beautiful and functional by funding major repairs, facility replacements, and unforeseen needs that may occur.

This $1,800 fee can be paid in installments over 5 years ($360 per year for 5 years). The first installment will begin one year after you join. It can be paid monthly or once per year with the same payment methods listed above.

Next Steps

If you have any questions or if you are ready to join, the next step is to speak with a member of our membership team:

Beth Kodner, Director of Development and Membership
Email Beth or call 314-692-5306
Emily Cohen, Director of Family Engagement and Membership
Email Emily or call 314-692-5323

Or you can click below to fill out a brief online form and someone from the membership team will reach out to you.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Made with ❤ with Elementor

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.