Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel: The Men’s Club Sukkah Construction Co., led by Larry Koenig, with Brad Abel, Harlie Frankel, Howard Granok and Don Pearline helped make repairs and spruce up sections of the congregational sukkah. The group has additional plans to improve and ready it for the holiday.

Central Reform Congregation: Participants have been working on creating their own spiritual programs with Maggie Duwe, Debbie Harris and Rabbi Susan Talve as part of the journey through the month of Elul and in preparation for the High Holy Days. They have spent time exploring quieting techniques involving breathing, movement, music, chanting and more.

Jewish Community Center: Dr. Linda Liberman has joined the staff as the adult education coordinator. Education and life-learning have been cornerstones of Liberman’s twenty-eight year career in higher education. Most recently she was the Provost of Broward Community College’s downtown campus.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service: The agency and the Jewish Community Center Camp Kehillah joined forces to plant and grow a garden that helps feed the hungry. In development since autumn 2006, the garden is maintained by campers and the produce is harvested to feed patrons of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Susan Rundblad, coordinator of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry contacted Mara Higdon at Gateway Greening to help create a successful garden. Camp Kehillah director Joey Boime also helped establish the garden and hold the interest of the campers. Chuck Hardy from the camp staff helped with his gardening expertise.

Kol Am: The congregation had a very special family literary event with prize-winning author and poet Rich Michelson. He gave a special presentation on writing across racial lines. Michelson’s latest children’s book, Across the Alley, was a 2006 National Jewish Book Award Finalist and an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Younger Readers for 2007. In addition to his appearance at the synagogue, Michelson also presented a workshop for Jewish educators from throughout the community. His visit was made possible through a Professional Excellence grant from the Central Agency for Jewish Education.

National Council of Jewish Women: The organization’s Second Annual Trivia Night was a rousing success. With the help of generous sponsors, emcee Joel Goldberg and 240 attendees, the organization more than doubled the amount of dollars raised last year. The trivia night committee was a big part of that success. Members included: co-chairs, Terri Grossman and Rose-Lynn Sokol; raffle chair, Beth Kodner and committee members: Darien Arnstein, Nancy Berg, Dana Gaby, Sherri Goldman, Marlene Hammerman, Susan Katzman and Laura Levy.

Nishmah: The recent Salon Lunch-n-Learn held at Traditional Congregation offered participants a taste of the salon series which will formally begin in October. The program drew on the appeal of the articles used to trigger discussion and dialogue at the salon meetings. Each participant received a commentary packet and complementary Hadassah magazine. Alyson Aviv and Ilene Joseph facilitated the special program.

Saul Mirowitz Day School-RJA

The school recently celebrated the installation of its new head of school, Philip Dickstein, and new officers of the board of directors. Rabbi Joshua Taub beautifully led the board in reflecting on the life-long responsibility to reflect on the concept of being chosen and the obligation to continually choose righteous service.

Shaare Emeth

The Women of Reform Judaism hosted a well-attended paid-up members luncheon for the women of the congregation. After everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch, Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey Stiffman gave a very interesting presentation on the history of the congregation and of the building. Soozi Waxman planned the event.

Shaare Zedek: St. Louis baseball fans — especially Jewish ones — enjoyed a special treat before the St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium when Hazzan Joanna Selznick Dulkin and four members of the b’nai mitzvah classes of 2005, ’06 and ’07, sang the National Anthem. Wearing specially designed Hebrew Cardinals T-shirts, Hazzan Dulkin, Hannah Boxerman, Emily Ginsburg, Corey Rosenberg and Daniel Sheinbein performed flawlessly and thrilled the enthusiastic crowd. During the entire rendition, the singers, their names, and the congregation’s name were prominently displayed on the stadium’s huge video board. Probably the loudest cheering came from the 200 members of the congregation who turned out to root on their favorite singers and who gave them another ovation as they made their way to their seats after their performance.

Temple Emanuel: Participants enjoyed the continuing opportunity to be part of the congregation’s 50th anniversary quilt. Families brought in squares of fabric which hold special meaning for them or created their own completed squares for inclusion in the quilt. The program was coordinated by Nancy Taxman and Suzanne Yee.

Temple Israel: Deutsch Early Childhood Center director Gloria Lieberman reported Camp Shook had another busy, bustling, fun-filled summer. With the help of many specialists, they used art, music, sports, cooking and more to explore the world for their “Oh the Place We’ll Go” theme. The children enjoyed having special visitors to the camp including a moon bounce, petting zoo and puppet show. All the campers loved spending Fridays celebrating Shabbat with Rabbi Amy Feder and director of education Debbie Morosohk followed by a special lunch. The campers also participated in various tzedakah projects and enjoyed a concert featuring Sheldon Low. Most of all, they enjoyed swimming and splashing in the congregation’s very own pool.

United Hebrew Congregation: The Sisterhood/Women of Reform Judaism recently held a special Shabbat service and installation of officers ceremony. Incoming officers included: president, Anita Schwartz; programming, Lisa Klein and Elisa Mondschein; membership, Susan Allison and Fanchon Auman; social action, Jeanne Gieseke; fundraising, Elizabeth Freeman and Michele Mixon; treasurer, Elayne Grossberg; recording secretary, Elizabeth Holden; corresponding secretary, Marian Barnholtz; tributes, Minnette Weinstein; WRJ district representative, Sherry Lipshitz and past president, Arlene Peterson.