“Israel’s Challenges In 2007: A Time To Take Action,” an evening with Martin Raffel, senior associate executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, will be held Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Federation Kopolow Building. This advocacy seminar, sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council, will focus on key issues facing Israel and how community members can be effective in communicating about these issues. Call 314-442-3871 for information.

Shaare Emeth hosts upcoming cooking classes

A series of Sunday morning learning and cooking classes, “Everything You Thought You Learned in Sunday School But Have Since Forgotten….” And “Cooking and Beyond” will next meet on Sunday, Feb. 4 from 9:15-10:45 a.m. at Shaare Emeth.

Those who cook will experience “Shabbat Beyond Challah” taught by Aura Kavadlo. The classroom topic will be “Does God Hear Our Prayers?” taught by a rabbi.The charge for each class is $5.

To register, contact Stacy Jespersen at Shaare Emeth 314-569-0010.

‘It’s Friday Night!’ Shabbat dinners return to B’nai Amoona

“It’s Friday Night!” Shabbat dinners for singles 45 and over are returning. In the Spring of 1996, a group of five singles planned an ongoing program of Shabbat evenings centered around a traditional kosher or, if requested, vegetarian Friday night dinner. The dinners were followed by a speaker or a discussion. The programs were held until February 2003.

The program will return Feb. 16 of this year at 7 p.m., co-sponsored by B’nai Amoona. The cost to attend is $12.50. Reservation deadline is Feb. 9 with checks to be received by Feb. 13. To make a reservation or for information, call Harlie Frankel at 314-645-5297 or Phyllis Cantor at 314-469-1776.

Coalition of groups sets advocacy education event

A coalition of Jewish Organizations is sponsoring a free Community Speak Out Advocacy Education Day on February 4, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Jewish Federation Building, 12 Millstone Campus Dr. This program will offer information on: how a bill becomes a law, how to track a bill, effective methods for advocating, key issues for the Missouri 2007 General Assembly including separation of religion and state and social justice issues. Presenters include: Reps. Rachel Storch, Kathlyn Fares, Jeff Smith and Jake Zimmerman and lobbyist David Winton. Special sessions will be geared to the interests of post-b’nai mitzvah- age students. To register call 314-993-5181 or e-mail [email protected].

BSKI program will focus on women’s health Feb. 7

Deborah Zorensky and Dr. Kristin McClain will discuss how women can feel better and protect themselves from the increased risks of cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel. The cost is $6. Payment should be sent to Women’s League, BSKI, 1107 East Linden Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 63117. Payments and reservations are due by Feb. 4. For information call Jeanne at 314-725-6230

Radio personality will speak to Reform 60’s+ Group

The Reform Jewish Singles 60’s+ Group will present Dennis Owsley, KWMU Radio producer and host of its jazz show, who will talk about Ragtime in St. Louis from 1895 to 1916 in an interactive discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Shaare Emeth Congregation. The cost to attend is $4 per person. For reservations, send a check payable to RST to Ken Schwartz, c/o United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63141. For more information, call Ruth at 314-432-4247.

Jews United for Justice will honor Grollman, Seay

Jews United for Justice will honor two pioneers of the civil rights struggle, Rabbi Jerome Grollman and Norman Seay, at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at the former United Hebrew Congregation, now the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center, at 225 South Skinker Boulevard (just south of Wydown). To honor this historic relationship between Jews and African-Africans, united in the struggle for equality, Jews United for Justice instituted its Heschel-King celebration, at the convergence of the yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Joshua Heschel (18th of Hebrew month of Tevet) that comes in proximity to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Singer comes to Shaare Emeth

Congregation Shaare Emeth will again host singer/songwriter Rick Calvert Feb. 9-11. The weekend will be filled with song, prayer and opportunities for musical learning. Calvert is a regular performer at the annual CAJE conference and his reputation is fast growing nationally.

The first is Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. for Shir Shabbat when Calvert will participate in the Congregation’s musical Kabbalat Shabbat service. Ron Cytron will be honored for his extraordinary volunteer service to the congregation as music catalyst. On Saturday, Feb. 10, at 9 a.m. for Boker Tov Shabbat, there will be a light continental breakfast followed by a Shabbat morning service led by Calvert.

At 4 p.m. that day there will be a jam session. All are invited to bring their voices, their acoustic guitars and other acoustic instruments to join Calvert. On Sunday, Feb. 11, at 10:30 a.m. There will be a “Contemporary Jewish Music Seminar and Song Session.”

All the weekend’s events will take place at Congregation Shaare Emeth and are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Vera Emmons at 314-569-0010.

‘A Glass Act’ at Glass Factory

Displays of glass blowing, delicious food, and traditional jazz melded with contemporary classical will all come together as Shaare Zedek welcomes new Hazzan Joanna Selznick Dulkin with “A Glass Act,” a gala evening at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at The Third Degree Glass Factory at 5200 Delmar. During the cocktail hour, guests will enjoy the intriguing process of creating unique items with molten glass as Third Degree artists produce artwork while providing an entertaining and educational show. Music from the Todd Mosby Group will top off the evening.

For more information and reservations for “A Glass Act” at $85 per person, please contact the Shaare Zedek office at 314-727-1747 or [email protected].

Kol Am hosts Superbowl event on Feb. 4

For the 17th year, Congregation Kol Am is joining with Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Soulard to feed the homeless on Superbowl Sunday.

On Feb. 4, volunteers will serve homeless people from local shelters as they watch the Superbowl on large television screens. Guests are first served lunch by the congregations and other volunteers. Afterward, guests are able to watch the game on big screen TVs in the church. Just before the game, dinner is served, with second helpings during halftime. Hats and gloves are passed out as well.

The congregations bring used clothes to hand out to the guests and also buy gloves and socks to be passed out as well. For more information on volunteering, contact Congregation Kol Am at 636-227-7574.