High Holiday Details

Additional High Holiday Info

High Holiday Food Drive & Tzedakah

The Prophet Isaiah teaches, “This is the fast I desire
it is to share your bread with the hungry.” Congregation Shaare Emeth will collect nutritious canned or non-perishable foods during the High Holidays. Supplies will go to The Harvey Kornblum Food Pantry.

Food donations can be brought with you to prayerbook pick-ups, services during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur or Monday–Friday, October 2–12.

Monetary donations are also welcome, benefiting the St. Louis Food Bank, Harvey Kornblum Food Bank, and Mazon, A Jewish Response to Hunger. Cash or checks payable to “Shaare Emeth Food Drive” will be collected before and after each High Holiday service, or you can donate online via ShulCloud.

Donate Thru ShulCloud

High Holiday Giving

We hope you will be here for Shaare Emeth and contribute a meaningful gift in honor of this year’s High Holidays. To make your gift now, please click the link below or contact Beth Kodner at 314-692-5306 if you have any questions. Thank you for your generosity.

Details & Donation

High Holiday Childcare Available

Congregation Shaare Emeth is pleased to be able to offer childcare during Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur morning services. For more information, call Emily Cohen at 314-692-5323.

  • Who: Children ages 6 months – 7 years
  • When: Thursday, October 3 and Saturday, October 12 from 9:30–12:30 p.m.
  • Where: Drop-off and pick-up in the preschool hallway
  • Cost: $5 per child per holiday
  • Registration: Advance registration is required. Space is very limited so register early! 
Register Now

Parking Locations & Shuttle

In the event our lot fills, overflow parking and shuttles are provided. Plan to arrive early to allow time to park or relocate to overflow parking and take the shuttle.

Overflow Parking Locations:
Elks Lodge #9, 12481 Ladue Road
Medical Offices, 456 and 522 N. New Ballas Road

  • Erev Rosh Hashanah, October 2 from 6:30 p.m. – Medical Offices
  • Rosh Hashanah, October 3 from 8:30 a.m. – Elks Lodge #9
  • Erev Yom Kippur, October 11 from 6:30 p.m. – Elks Lodge #9
  • Yom Kippur, October 12 from 8 a.m. – Medical Offices

Accessibility

Your ability to access our facility and enjoy services to the fullest extent possible is extremely important to us. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience beyond the measures outlined below, please let us know by calling the temple office at 314-569-0010, by e-mailing us, or by approaching a staff or board member wearing a silver nametag.

In addition to our facility being ADA-accessible, hearing assistive devices, large-print prayerbooks, wheelchairs, and walkers are available upon request from the South Lobby reception desk. American Sign Language interpretation is provided for High Holiday services in the Stiffman Sanctuary.

Living Our Values: Welcoming All

At Congregation Shaare Emeth, we are so pleased to invite you to join with us to usher in the year 5785. It is our tradition to extend the warmest possible “Welcome!” as we open our doors to all who wish to join us during the High Holidays and throughout the year. All members of the Congregation and all guests and visitors are welcome to join us for our services; no tickets are necessary.

Prayerbook Pick-Up

The beloved Mishkan Hanefesh Machzor two-volume set will again be our prayerbook companion for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. If you are planning to attend services by live-streaming, you may borrow prayerbooks to use at home. Get your set(s) at one of the pick-up times listed below. They are due back before Monday, October 21.

At pick-up, you will be asked for your credit card number and, if your books are not returned by Monday, October 21, you will be charged $50. No credit cards will be processed before October 21.

Pick-up Dates & Times in the North Lobby

  • Friday, September 27: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Monday, September 30: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 1: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 2: 9 a.m. – Noon

Live Streaming

Congregation Shaare Emeth is proud to offer online viewing options for all of our High Holiday services again this year.

The only link you need is sestl.co/stream. Bookmark it for easy access, even year-to-year!

If at any time you’re experiencing difficulties accessing the livestream:

ALL HIGH HOLIDAY LIVE STREAMS

© 2023 All rights reserved

Made with ❀ with Elementor​

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.