Tag: Elul 2026

Wisdom to Live: An Evening of Reflection and Inspiration for Selichot

As we prepare for the High Holy Days, all are invited to join us for the screening of Dying Doesn’t Feel Like What I’m Doing, a powerful film documenting the life and death of Rabbi Rachel Cowan. Rabbi Cowan lived her life and faced her death with an unwavering commitment to gratitude and justice, honesty, and wisdom. She offers […]

Writing Toward the New Year

Tuesdays, September 1 and 8 at 7 p.m. Writing can be a true spiritual discipline. Writing can help us to get in touch with the deeper stirrings of our hearts, to clarify our minds … to give artistic expression to what we are living, and to store significant events in our memories. – Henri Nouwen […]

Poetry of the Prayerbook

Mishkan HaNefesh, our prayerbooks for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, contain an incredible array of poetry to inspire as we reflect on the themes of the High Holy Days and think through our new year aspirations. In this workshop, Rabbi Goldstein and Scott Berzon will guide participants to dive more deeply into a beautiful selection […]

Our Annual Wake-Up Call: What the Shofar Asks of Us

During the month of Elul, as we prepare for the High Holy Days, our tradition calls us to hear the sound of the shofar. The shofar is more than a ritual instrument; it is Judaism’s annual wake-up call. Come explore the meaning behind this ancient practice and discover ways to make listening to the shofar […]

Back to School Shabbat & Picnic

If You Loved Camp Shabbat, You’ll Love the Back-to-School Shabbat & Picnic! Friday, August 21 at 5 p.m. Kick off the new school year with our August L’Dor VaDor Intergenerational Shabbat, community, and family fun! If your family enjoyed Camp Shabbat, you’ll feel right at home at Back-to-School Shabbat. This joyful, interactive service is designed […]

New Year in the Orchard

For Families with Children of All Ages At an orchard within 20 minutes of Shaare Emeth RSVP for location details Meet up with your Shaare Emeth clergy, staff, and friends at the orchard to prep for your Rosh Hashanah celebrations! Each year, we eat apples and honey to celebrate a sweet new year, and now […]

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.