Zach Wochner, United Hebrew CongregationUnited Hebrew’s HaDerech Mitzvot is a program to enhance students’ connection to Judaism as they prepare for their bar or bat mitzvah. Throughout the past year, Zach Wochner, son of Micki and Michael Wochner...

Lauren Mishkin, Congregation Shaare EmethLauren Mishkin loves working with kids and wanted to volunteer in a classroom for her mitzvah project. For six months, she spent every Tuesday afternoon at the University City Children’s Center, a diverse early...

 Like so many of us, Gail Kitsis grew up eating canned vegetables and canned fruit packed in syrup. Those days are over. Kitsis and her husband, Keith, longtime advocates of fresh, healthy food, founded Crazy Bowls and Wraps restaurants in 1994. Today,...

Reports began to surface last week about the rise of cases of the mosquito-born Zika virus in South America, and the associated birth defect microcephaly, which is characterized by smaller brain size and has been detected in as many as 4,000 babies in...

Ethan Benoist, Congregation Temple IsraelEthan Benoist knows that books, and being read to, are not a given in every home. One of his favorite activities is relaxing with a good book, and he wanted to share his love of reading with other young children. Son...

Aaron Bennett, Congregation Shaare EmethAaron, son of Brenda Bennett of Ballwin and Ronald Bennett of Moberly, volunteered at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry for his mitzvah project. He chose this because he felt it was a good way to help his...

Harry Blasé, Congregation Shaare EmethHarry wanted to volunteer at a sports organization that focused on kids. Not sure where to turn, he and his parents, Lindsay and Chris Blasé of Creve Coeur, met with Debbie Bram, Shaare Emeth’s director of Jewish...

For the past 25 years, Dr. David Gutmann has devoted his medical and research career to helping individuals with neurofibromatosis (NF), which he calls “the most common disorder you’ve never heard of.” Of the three types, neurofibromatosis Type...

Nina SachsCongregation Shaare Emeth Nina Sachs, daughter of Kimberly Winters of Olivette and the late Peter Sachs, has been playing soccer since she was 6 years old. It is by far her favorite sport. She took her love of soccer and volunteered eight Saturday...

Adam Poger, Congregation Shaare Emeth Adam Poger, son of Anna and David Poger of Olivette, wanted to help others in so many ways that he decided to do a year of mitzvot. His mother’s passion is community service, so she planted this seed in her kids...