Tag: Texting Tuesdays

Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and How Jews Remember

Texting Tuesdays with Ziv Shalev and Rabbi Lori Levine Join our Shinshin Ziv and Rabbi Lori Levine to experience and learn more about the moving ceremonies around Israel for Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Terrorism. We will explore the importance of days of […]

Unexpected Reminders: Neighborhood Holocaust Memorials

Texting Tuesdays with Vera Emmons Vera Emmons will share little-known memorials to the Holocaust in neighborhoods she found in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, Europe. Hear the stories of how they were created and how they are maintained. Click Here to RSVP

Judaism is About Love: Session 2

Texting Tuesdays with Rabbi Andrea Goldstein Rabbi Goldstein will lead participants in a reflection and discussion of Rabbi Shai Held’s Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life. Copies of the book can be found at Shaare Emeth’s Rubin library or ordered through Amazon. This is the second of two sessions on this […]

Judaism is About Love: Session 1

Texting Tuesdays with Rabbi Andrea Goldstein Rabbi Goldstein will lead participants in a reflection and discussion of Rabbi Shai Held’s Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life. Copies of the book can be found at Shaare Emeth’s Rubin library or ordered through Amazon. This is the first of two sessions on this […]

From Shtetl to Stand-Up

Texting Tuesdays with Craig Neuman It’s apropos that this unique Texting Tuesday session occurs on April Fools Day! Join Shaare Emeth’s Executive Director, Craig Neuman, for an exploration of the evolution of Jewish humor. Click Here to RSVP

Flavors of Freedom

Texting Tuesdays: A Passover Culinary Journey Passover dessert cooking with Lorry Blath. Learn to make a new passover dessert! Click Here to RSVP

Reflections on Jewish Argentina

Texting Tuesdays with Cantor Warner From February 15-24, Cantor Warner and other cantors from the American Conference of Cantors led a musical Jewish heritage journey to Argentina. For this special Texting Tuesdays session, he’ll share highlights and insights from his trip. Click Here to RSVP

Jewish Models of Leadership

Texting Tuesdays with Rabbi Bearman From Moses to Queen Esther to RBG to Michael Twitty (a Jewish, Black, Southern, and gay chef and writer), we have thousands of models of what it means to be a Jewish leader. Join Rabbi Bearman and meet both well-known and unfamiliar Jewish leaders from our people’s history and present. […]

Texting Tuesdays: A Taste of Israeli Literature

With Marcia Moskowitz February 18 & 25 Israeli literature past and present is a lens into the culture of the society. Works by A.B. Yehoshua, Amos Oz, David Grossman, Ayelet Gundar-Goshen, and poetry since October 7 will be highlighted in the class. Please RSVP if you are planning to attend.

Texting Tuesdays: The Season of Love

Celebrating Jewish Love Stories with Rabbi Rachel Bearman Tuesday, February 11 Valentine’s Day may have been named after a saint, but that doesn’t mean we can’t embrace the season of love by celebrating some of the most inspiring Jewish love stories. We’ll dive deep into biblical romances between Isaac and Rebecca, David and Jonathan, and […]

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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.