Shavuot

Shavuot 2026 at Congregation Shaare Emeth

May 21 Thursday

A Community Shavuot Evening of Learning, Memory, and Meaning

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About Shavuot

May 21-23, 2026

Shavuot, literally translated as “weeks,” is the date commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It originally began a festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest, Additionally, Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem.

In modern times Shavuot is a celebration of Torah, education, dairy foods and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life. Many people stay up all night–or at least stay up late–studying Torah, often as part of community learning. These events are known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot, literally meaning “rectification for Shavuot night.” It also is customary to eat dairy foods such as blintzes and cheesecake Shavuot, as Jewish tradition compares the words of Torah to the sweetness of milk and honey.

Shavuot Resources

Learn more about Shavuot history, rituals, and customs, including dairy recipes, table decorations, and clips from Shalom Sesame by clicking here.

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.