Who We Are

Our Mission

At Congregation Shaare Emeth, we come together to strengthen relationships, connect with Jewish tradition, deepen spiritual engagement, and act to repair our world.

Our Vision

Congregation Shaare Emeth is a vibrant, inclusive center of Jewish life where every person can find a sense of belonging, meaning, joy, and hope.

We Are Guided by These Values:

  • Kehillah / Community We are a vibrant, multigenerational community where relationships flourish and every person is valued. We honor the Divine in each individual, and welcome all who seek connection and a home in Jewish life.
  • Torah / Lifelong Learning At all ages and stages of life, we engage deeply with Jewish wisdom, allowing timeless teachings to guide and impact our lives today.
  • Avodah / Sacred Service Through prayer, ritual, and holiday and life cycle celebrations, we seek and create moments of holiness in our lives and in the life of our community.
  • Tikkun Olam / Repairing the World We act with compassion and moral courage to stand for justice, pursue peace, and heal our world.
  • Hineni / Presence and Responsibility We choose to be present, offering our time, resources, and care to one another, to our St. Louis community, to the Jewish people here and in Israel, and to those who struggle around the world.

The community of Congregation Shaare Emeth expects every congregant, staff member, clergy, and guest to behave in accordance with our values.

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.