Membership

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!

Express Your Interest in Shaare Emeth Membership
Check Out Our List of Engagement Opportunities!

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.