Reaffirming Our Commitment to Our Jewish Values

Reaffirming Our Commitment to Our Jewish Values

A Message from Shaare Emeth’s Leadership

In the Book of Exodus, we read about our people’s moment at Mt. Sinai, when we stood together and entered into a Covenant with God. There, we received commandments that would become the foundation for the kinds of sacred communities the Jewish people were to create.  

Defend the orphan, the widow, and the stranger – the most vulnerable among you. Do not mock the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind. Share your harvest with the poor. Welcome the stranger. Tend to the sick. Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not stand idly by while your neighbor bleeds. What is hateful to you, do not do to another. Honor the tzelem Elohim, the image of God, in everyone.  

These are our Reform Jewish values. This is the kind of community Congregation Shaare Emeth strives to be. We live out these values in many ways, including: 

  • Honoring the identity, diversity, and abilities of all. 

  • Promoting an emotionally and physically safe environment for everyone. 

  • Welcoming all to participate in our worship, traditions, and programs. 

  • Joining together in acts of tikkun olam, acts to mend our broken world.

In recent weeks, when so many of these values are being abandoned or challenged at the federal and state level, Congregation Shaare Emeth remains committed to our vision of an inclusive community where people of every race, gender identity, sexual identity, and people of all abilities are welcomed and belong. We value each of our members and visitors and are grateful for all that you contribute to our congregational community. 

Many of Shaare Emeth’s committee and inclusion groups have been working for years to celebrate our diversity and care for those most in need, and we expect this work to continue for years to come. If you would like to stay informed with updates, actions, programs, and ways that you can help these important communities within the greater Shaare Emeth community, please sign up to receive their alerts. They will so appreciate knowing that they have your support. 

Immigration Action and Advocacy Committee

  • Stan Shanker, chair

  • To stay informed, email Debbie Bram

Keshet (Welcome and Inclusion of LGBTQ+ members and guests)

REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee

  • Holly Bernstein and Amy Hammerman, co-chairs 

  • To stay informed, email Stacy Jespersen

Accessibility and Inclusion Working Group

  • This working group is in formation.

  • Please contact Craig Neuman, Executive Director, if you would like to be involved.

At Congregation Shaare Emeth the most important resource we have is each other. We are here for you and are grateful for our community’s continued support of one another. 

L’shalom, 

Dana DeBlasi, President
Mark Gubernik, First Vice President
Rabbi Jim Bennett
Rabbi Andrea Goldstein
Craig Neuman, Executive Director

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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.