Annual Shabbat St. Louis planned for April 23

Participants gathered at Temple Israel for the 2013 Shabbat St. Louis service. This year’s Shabbat St. Louis takes place April 23 at United Hebrew. File photo

“With Outstretched Arms” will be the theme of the eighth annual Shabbat St. Louis community celebration of Shabbat and Passover on Saturday morning, April 23, at United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road. 

Torah study led by area rabbis will start at 9 a.m. The Shabbat/Passover Festival service will begin at 10 a.m. and will be led by adults and youth representing area Reform and Reconstructionist congregations and the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the band HaShemesh. A Passover Kiddush will follow the service.  

Shabbat St. Louis is open to the community. All ages are welcome. Attendees are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food to benefit the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Assistive listening devices will be available and the service will be sign interpreted. 

Shabbat St. Louis was started in 2009 by Ron Cytron, a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, to “foster a spirit of collaboration, to strengthen our St. Louis Jewish community, and to enrich our celebration of Shabbat.”

The 2016 Shabbat St. Louis planning committee is  co-chaired by Lesley Lutker and Craig Roth. The service is sponsored by Berger Memorial Funeral Chapel, New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel, and congregations Shaare Emeth, Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community, Temple Emanuel, Temple Israel-Alton, Temple Israel-St. Louis, United Hebrew and B’nai El.

Connect with Shabbat St. Louis at facebook.com/shabbatstl.