Yahrzeits

This week, we observe the yahrzeits of the following people who have a perpetual memorial at Congregation Shaare Emeth. The following names will be read at Kabbalat Shabbat worship services on Friday evening at 6 p.m.

April 20 – April 26, 2025

Ida Abramson
Lucille F. Alexander
Louis I. Alport
Rose Ann Baker
Shirley Bassman
Morris Becker
Harry Beckerman
Karl Bensinger
Dr. Martin Bergmann
Bella Epstein Biederman
Bertha F. Brand
Marie Brin
Lena Brody
Louis Cohen
Frances Cytron
Celia Dardick
Elsie Eckert
Hattie Heilbrun Epstein
Idamae Lewkowitz Epstein
Rosie G. Epstein
Milton Ferman
Sam Fixman
Adolph M. Frank
Julie A. Frankenthal
Hilda Kaufman Freeman
Helen Weil Freund
Morris Aaron Funk
Minnie Glassman
Isaac R. Goldberg
Max Goldman
Dr. Bernard Goldstein
Helen G. Goldstein
Max Goldstein

Annie Goodman
Helen Becker Goz
Ray Appleman Greenwald
Adele K. Gross
Ann B. Haffner
Clementine Hesse
Louis Hirsch
Elaine Isaccoson Holzman
Hank S. Iglauer
Alvin E. Jerome
Clara Kahn
Gladys Katz
Joseph Kohn
Harry M. Kornblum
Edith Bonnett Kowarsky
Al Levy
Albert Levy
Paul Levy
Barbara J. Liberman
Ida Loew
Arnold Loewenstein
Eva Meisel
Bertha M. Michaels
Florence Midows
Irwin Monash
Jake Nathanson
Sylvia Pasternak
Leonard S. Pearl
David Plengemeier
William G. Pope
Elaine Reiter
William J. Rice
Dolores Rodenberg

Edward Rosenkranz
Mollie Rosenstrom
Robert Rothenberg
Goldie Rovak
Mary Freund Sachar
Florence D. Sale
Hascal Schneider
Melvin Ervin William Schwartz
Joe Shanfeld
Alex K. Sherman
Sara Sherman
Ethyle Livingston Sichel
Wilma J. Siegelman
Carl Sigel
Roy J. Silver
Edith Silverstein
Lester Sterling
Fred Suffian
Margie B. Summers
Harold Taber
Dr. Sigmund Tashma
Neal Tokowitz
Louise Trommler
Philip J. Van Der Hack
Joseph Weingart
Rose Weisl
Chiel White
Edna White
Muriel White
Sara Wolk
Ann Zvibleman



ABOUT

Debbie & Mike Lefton

2024 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Debbie and Michael Lefton have been dedicated members of the Shaare Emeth community and the broader St. Louis Jewish community for many years, contributing their time and talents in numerous ways.

Debbie has been a member of Shaare Emeth since the 5th grade, attending Sunday School and confirmation. Debbie and Mike have been married for 27 years and became family members of  Shaare Emeth in 1996. Their children Sydney, and Jacob, both attend Shirlee Green Preschool, celebrated their b’not mitzvah, and attended Shaare Emeth Camps. Debbie and Mike have been actively involved in various committees at Shaare Emeth throughout the years; Debbie serving as the President of the Shirlee Green Preschool and Mike serving on the Board of Trustees and the Operating Committee for 12 years including President of our congregation.

Their commitment to education and community service extends beyond Shaare Emeth. They are true examples of community service heroes. In 2019 the Lefton Family received the American Jewish Committee Netzach Award and in 2022, Debbie and Mike were honored with the JProStL Community Leader Partnership Award.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life Services, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago and St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 12 years. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services from Washington University.

At the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Debbie has chaired several committees, including the Children’s Activity Center, the Camp Sabra Alumni Committee, and the Mission Task Force Committee. She has also co-chaired the Jewish Book Festival Women’s Event, the St. Louis Maccabi Games Closing Ceremonies and has served on the  J Associates Board for 16 years, completing a term as President in 2022. Currently, Debbie serves as an Officer on the Executive Committee at the JCC and is Co-Chairing the Fox Building Capital Campaign. Debbie received the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Richard S. Weiss Past Presidents Award in 2018.

Debbie’s involvement in the St. Louis Jewish Federation includes serving on the Board of CAJE and Women’s Philanthropy and recently began an 8-year term on the National Jewish Federations Women’s Philanthropy Board. Debbie served on the Camp Rainbow Board of Directors and 28 years. Currently, Debbie is a board member of The St. Louis Jewish Light and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Friends Board.  Debbie received the MAC Women of Distinction honor in 2023.

Michael holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael began his career with Metal Exchange in 1984 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Metal Exchange has grown into a global enterprise with a strong international presence, including offices in Zurich and Shanghai. The company’s diverse operations include manufacturing, marketing, trading, metal processing, distribution, and transportation of nonferrous metals.

Mike’s commitment to community service is evident through his current roles as Board President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and Regional President of the American Jewish Committee – St. Louis. Mike served as President of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer for seven years and is Immediate Past President. Mike received the Presidential Citation Award from Variety the Children’s Charity international in 2019.

Additionally, Mike currently serves on several boards, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women Advisory Council, Jewish Federation Professional Society Leadership Advisory Council, and Heat-Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Debbie and Mike reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two adult children, Sydney 26, who lives in Tel Aviv, and Jacob 24, who resides in Cincinnati. The Lefton family are avid hockey fans, enjoy theatre, traveling and spending time in Colorado.

The Shaare Emeth community is honored to celebrate Debbie and Michael Lefton for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to our community and beyond.