Home Events & Programs Wake-Up Call: The Power and Provocation of Un’taneh Tokef

Wake-Up Call: The Power and Provocation of Un’taneh Tokef

As the High Holy Days approach, join Cantor Seth Warner for a powerful evening of learning and reflection centered on one of the most haunting and stirring prayers of the season: Un’taneh Tokef.

Why does this ancient text still move us — and unsettle us — with its imagery of judgment, fate, and divine mercy? What does it mean to stand “like sheep before the shepherd,” and can t’shuvah, t’filah, and tzedakah really change the decree?

In this 90-minute class, we’ll explore the origins, structure, theology, and emotional resonance of Un’taneh Tokef, and open space for our own personal and communal meaning-making. No prior knowledge necessary — just curiosity and a willingness to engage deeply.

Come for the text, stay for the transformation. Light dessert refreshments will be served.

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Date
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Expired!
Time
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
More Info
RSVP Now
Labels
Adults & Teens
Location
Simcha Center
11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141

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.