AV Club

Congregation Shaare Emeth’s A.V. Club

The A.V. Club continues to help keep our Congregation connected with wrap-around technological services for members of all ages. The A.V. Club’s support optimizes what Shaare Emeth can achieve inside the temple as well as beyond its walls.

The A.V. club began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to bolster our live streaming capabilities. Over the years, many initiatives have been technologically supported by the A.V. Club, in collaboration with the Michael Matlof Connection and Communication Fund:

  1. Streaming religious services with more cameras and improved sound quality.
  2. Bringing all life cycle events online: B’Mitzvah services, funerals, and weddings are shared with loved ones across the world.
  3. Improving screens, projectors, and sound engineering in our worship and learning spaces.
  4. Expanding Zoom capability, allowing us to extend our virtual walls to more people.
  5. Hosting lively and entertaining programs in a hybrid or online format, like book clubs and Purim spiels, and “bringing” special guests to the Shaare Emeth community from Israel and all over the United States.
  6. Creating opportunities for digital engagement and accessibility, from weekly Jewish Mindfulness Center Meditation Sits, to Keshet’s LGBTQ+ programming, book talks, and more, fulfilling our commitment to keep learning vibrant and meaningful.

You can help support Shaare Emeth’s commitment to accessibility and connection by becoming a member of our A.V. Club with a $100 annual donation. Donations of all amounts are greatly appreciated.

Become an A.V. Club Member

If you have any questions, please contact Beth Kodner, Director of Development & Membership.

Special thanks to Michele Siler, A.V. Club Chair, and the Michael Matlof Connection and Communication Fund.

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.