More than 400 people gathered at the Jewish Community Center on March 11 to recognize Jewish professionals who are making a difference at the annual JProStL recognition luncheon. The event was led by Rebekah Scallet, JPro president, and Samantha Wendling, who served as event chair. The theme of the event was “Taking Care of Community.”
JProStL marks its 21st anniversary in 2026. This year’s honorees have made an important impact on the community, according to Danny Cohn, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
“Whether you measure your professional time in months or in decades, you do something remarkable every single day,” Cohn said. “You help our Jewish community thrive. Not in theory, but in real day-to-day work of Jewish life, running programs, solving problems, welcoming people through the door, supporting families in difficult moments, and creating experiences that make people feel connected.”
The people behind the work
“The Jewish community doesn’t run on buildings or strategic plans,” he said. “It runs on people. Our Jewish communal professionals care deeply about the work, about the mission, and about each other. Our work can be demanding, it can be complicated, and sometimes it can feel like we’re being pulled in many different directions. But moments like this remind us that we are part of something much bigger.”
This year’s honorees included Jeffrey Cohen, who received the Partnership Award for his work with Crown Center for Senior Living and the J, and Scott Biondo, representing the Jewish Federation community security team.
Peer awards were presented to:
• Lindsay Eichhorn — Chesed/Kindness Award
• Laurie Cohen — Dedication Award
• Ron Davis — Dedication Award
• Rabbi Avi and Shani Roberts — Young Adult Leadership Award
• Lauren Louri — Educator Award
• Racheli Staum — Mentor Award
• Mindy Sharp — Pillar Award
• Julie Gibbs — Career Achievement Award
• Jordan Palmer — Visionary Award
A community effort
Palmer, chief digital content officer of the St. Louis Jewish Light, spoke at the conclusion of the program and summarized the work and contributions of this year’s honorees.
“On behalf of all of the honorees, thank you to the people who support all of us behind the scenes,” Palmer said. “Today we’ve watched the videos and heard the stories, and it’s a reminder of something that’s easy to forget when you’re in the middle of the work: none of us do this alone.”
“Organizations like JProStL remind us of that,” he said. “This group represents the educators, the mentors, the organizers, the storytellers and the professionals who quietly strengthen Jewish life in St. Louis and help our community grow stronger and more connected — the people who wake up every day thinking about how to make this community better.”
