Home Events & Programs Through the Trees: Reflecting on 80 Years with Alan Spector

Through the Trees: Reflecting on 80 Years with Alan Spector

What are the ideas, experiences, and questions that quietly shape who we are over time?

Join author Alan Spector for a thoughtful and engaging conversation drawn from his latest (and 17th!) book, Through the Trees. Alan will share personal reflections on the topics that have stayed with him across decades—ideas that have taken root, evolved, and become part of his life’s story.

Together, we’ll be invited to consider our own “through the trees” moments: the concepts, relationships, and experiences that have shaped us, often in ways we only recognize with time.

Come ready to listen, reflect, and perhaps see your own story with fresh perspective.

With the generous support of the Rubin Library Fund, a small registration fee includes one copy of Through the Trees per household to continue the reflection at home.

RSVP by May 26.

Date
Monday, June 22, 2026
Expired!
Time
10:00 am - 11:00 am
More Info
RSVP by May 26
Location
B'nai El Chapel
11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141
Category

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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.