Steven Levitt, a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, has earned the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life) award from the Boy Scouts of America. This is the first time this award has been earned in the Greater St. Louis Area Council in its 95-year history. The Etz Chaim Award is designed for Boy Scouts in high school. The purpose is to encourage exploration of adult Jewish roles in the context of family, community, and Jewish people. Steven is the son of Bruce and Betsy Levitt of Creve Coeur.

Commission post

Lynn Lyss, a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, was recently named to the national Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. The Commission on Social Action assists congregations in establishing social action committees that will help them to apply ethical Judaic principles to contemporary issues. It oversees the work of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) in Washington, D.C.

U.H. trivia night

United Hebrew Congregation will sponsor an adults-only Trivia Night party and silent auction on Saturday, March 18, to benefit social service agencies and to support special congregation’s projects. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the contest begins at 7:30. The cost is $144 for a table of eight with advance reservations by March 15 or $160 at the door. Call 314-434-3404 ext. 103.

Estate planning

Susan Lamb, Hadassah’s national planned giving and estate planning expert, will present two programs. The programs are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 20 at a private home at 8032 Park Drive, and 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, at The Hallmark of Creve Coeur, 1 New Ballas Place. There is no program fee. Call the Hadassah office at 314-991-0434 by March 20 to register.

’60s Plus singles

The Reform Jewish Singles 60’s Plus Group will host a dinner and discussion with Karen Aroesty, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at Shaare Emeth Congregation. The cost is $8.50 for both dinner and the program. For reservations, please send a check payable to RST to Ken Schwartz, c/o United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Rd., St. Louis, Mo. 63141. For more information, call Ruth at 314-432-4247.

NCJW conference

Advocates and issue experts joined hundreds of activists at the National Council of Jewish Women’s (NCJW) Leadership Conference 2006 in Chicago this month. The conference featured plenary sessions, expert panels, skill-building workshops, and award ceremonies honoring icons of advocacy. The Woman Who Dared Award was presented to Judge Rosemary Barkett, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Barkett was the first woman to sit on the Florida Supreme Court and to serve as the state’s chief justice.

Benefit

St. Louis Charity Performances will present “Ella’s Radio,” Wednesday and Thursday evening, March 22 and 23, at the Sheldon Theatre. The cabaret-type show will feature four local singers (from left to right in photo) — Ed Goodman (KEZK morning radio air personality), Irene Fox, Barbara Helmer and Art Schwartz. They will perform songs of Ella Fitzgerald and friends. Tickets are available, starting at $20, at www.metrotix.com, by calling 314-534-1111 or 800-293-5949 or by sending a check with a ticket order to St. Louis Charity Performances, Inc., 8816 Manchester Road, Suite 188, Brentwood, Mo. 63144. For more information contact Ed Musen at 314-290-2007 or at [email protected].

Senior project

A member from Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office will speak about the Senior Sting program at the OACAP board meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, at the Jewish Community Center Carlyn H. Wohl Building, 2 Millstone Campus Dr., Creve Coeur. “Senior Sting” is aimed at protecting seniors against consumer fraud. For information call OACAP at 314-442-3149.

Racism discussion

Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis will present panelists from four faith traditions to discuss diverse religious perspectives on racism. The discussion will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at Kirkwood Baptist Church, 211 North Woodlawn.

Book discussion

John Heidenry and Brett Topel, authors of The Boys Who Were Left Behind: The 1944 World Series Between the Hapless St. Louis Browns and the Legendary St. Louis Cardinals, will lead a panel discussion on St. Louis baseball history at the Jewish Book Festival at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at the JCC in Creve Coeur. Former St. Louis baseball players Ed Mickelson, Joe Cunningham and Babe Martin and sports historian Professor Charles Korr will participate. For tickets or more information, call 314-442-3299.

Students invited

When Rabbi Jeffrey Bienenfeld of Young Israel visits Yokne’am on March 24 and 25 for Shabbat, he hopes that all St. Louis students who are spending a year in yeshivot or seminary or other places of higher learning will celebrate Shabbat with him and visit Dati (Orthodox) families in the region. Yokne’am is Jewish Federation’s Partnership 2000 sister city in Israel. For more information, contact Jennifer Baer Lotsoff at [email protected] or 314-442-3867.

Senior fair

United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road, will sponsor a Senior Living Fair from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26. More than 30 social service agencies and professionals serving the elderly will be represented. For more information, call Ken Schwartz at 314-434-3404 ext. 103.

Singles event

Sparks Matchmaking, a dating service for Jews, is holding a get-together at Busch’s Grove, 9160 Clayton Rd., at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29. Jeremy Davenport will perform. The event is free, and there will be a cash bar. For more information or to register, call Paula Sparks at 314-721-3638.

YPD Happy Hour

The Jewish Federation’s Young Professionals Division will sponsor a happy hour on Thursday, March 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Busch’s Grove. For information, contact Margo Schwartz at 314-442-3865 or e-mail [email protected].

Passover project

Women of Reform Judaism Co-op Congregations will hold a Passover Mitzvah Project event from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at Congregation Shaare Emeth. Women from B’nai El, Shaare Emeth, Temple Israel, and United Hebrew Congregations will assemble Passover food baskets to be donated to the St. Louis Jewish Food Pantry. There is no charge for this event. RSVP by March 30 to Susan Steifel at 434-1341.

Character breakfast

The Jewish Community Center’s annual “Guess Who’s Coming to Breakfast” will be on Sunday, April 23, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the JCC Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield. For program pricing and questions contact Marci Diamond at 314-442-3454 or [email protected]

Agudas Israel dinner

Agudas Israel of St. Louis will hold its Annual Gala Dinner on Sunday, May 14, at the Crowne-Plaza Hotel in Clayton. Call 314-863-8978 for more information.

Golf outing

Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis will hold its 15th annual Schechter Fore Fun Golf Outing with a mah jongg tournament for non-golfers on Wednesday, May 24, at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park. Event includes lunch, boutique shopping, silent auction and cocktail awards reception. All proceeds benefit the SSDS Scholarship Fund. The golf outing will beging with a shotgun start at 12:15 p.m. Call 314-576-6177 for registration and sponsorship information.

Promotion

Ruth L. Lederman has been promoted to assistant executive vice president & director of development of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Lederman, a Detroit native, has worked for the Jewish Federation for almost nine years.

Passover flowers

NA’AMAT is again selling vases of spring flowers for Passover. Price is $25.00 per vase. Proceeds help support NA’AMAT projects for women and children. To order, call 314-993-3033 by Monday, April 3. Vases will be delivered on Tuesday, April 12.