When an Afghan refugee amily arrived in St. Louis, they didn’t know anyone, didn’t speak the language, and had no idea how to enroll their children in school or apply for government assistance. What they had — thanks to a group from Congregation Shaare Emeth — was Marti Zuckerman.

Zuckerman, a longtime Shaare Emeth member and public-interest advocate, is one of this year’s St. Louis Jewish Light Unsung Heroes, recognized for her work helping Afghan and Sudanese refugee families resettle in St. Louis. The award celebrates everyday individuals who are quietly transforming lives, and for many in her orbit, Zuckerman’s impact is hard to overstate.

“Marti is exactly the type of person who is deserving of being called an ‘Unsung Hero,’” said Stan Shanker, who nominated her. “She doesn’t do anything for the credit. She does it because someone needs to.”

A legacy rooted in justice and care

Zuckerman’s deep sense of service started at home. She’s the daughter of Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman, who served as senior rabbi of Shaare Emeth for more than three decades and became a well-known voice for civil rights and interfaith activism in St. Louis.

“Arlene and I have always been so proud of Marti,” said Rabbi Stiffman, referring to his wife. “Even as a small child she was attentive to the cares and needs of others. She lives by the values of her Jewish faith in deep love of family and concern for those in need. A graduate of the Washington University School of Law, she has always believed in justice and kindness.”

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Zuckerman echoes that grounding. “That’s just the world I grew up in,” she said. “My dad modeled what it means to speak up for people and to show up for them. I didn’t know anything else.”

Showing up in every way that counts

In 2021, shortly after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the International Institute of St. Louis sent out a call for volunteers. The organization had committed to resettling hundreds of Afghan families — but didn’t have the staff to handle the sudden influx. Shanker reached out to Zuckerman, asking if she’d chair a support team for a newly arrived family.

“She said yes immediately,” Shanker said. “And she didn’t just coordinate — she immersed herself in every detail of that family’s life.”

Zuckerman led a 20-member team through Shaare Emeth’s Immigration Action Committee. Together, they helped the family secure vital documentation like Social Security cards and work permits, enroll their children in school, find housing, and access benefits like Medicaid and WIC.

But when problems emerged — like the time St. Louis Public Schools suspended bus service — Marti stepped in directly.

“I still remember one of the children, standing at the bus stop on a freezing day with no pickup,” said Shanker. “Marti organized a carpool system on the spot. She doesn’t panic. She just solves things.”

Zuckerman also enrolled the family’s mother, Toorsan, in English classes and arranged babysitting for their younger children. When their lease expired, she negotiated a new one in the Parkway School District. The work was constant. The impact, generational.

A message that said everything

Months into the family’s resettlement, Zuckerman received a WhatsApp message from Shuja, the father. Written in broken English, it carried enormous emotional weight:

“We never felt alone here. We always felt that all our family is here, father, mother, sister. Again I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We love you and your family and your friends.”

Zuckerman’s eyes still well up when she rereads it. “You think you’re just helping with logistics,” she said. “But to them, it’s life-changing.”

That emotional bond deepened even further in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. Shuja sent another message: “Our heart is breaking for all the Jews that are our friends and all the Jews all over the world.”

“It meant everything,” Marti said. “It showed that showing up for people creates real connection across faiths, across experiences. That’s what community is.”

One family becomes three — and counting

What began as a one-time commitment quickly became a broader calling. Inspired by the group’s success, Shaare Emeth went on to sponsor two additional refugee families. Zuckerman now serves as housing coordinator for a Sudanese refugee family, bringing the same quiet dedication to helping them build a new life.

“She’s still doing it — four years later,” said Shanker. “It’s the long-term commitment that really stands out. She doesn’t let go just because the paperwork is finished.”

In between, Marti has also:

• Co-chaired Shaare Emeth’s “Mitzvah Day,” coordinating hundreds of local volunteers

• Helped start a partnership with the International Institute’s food pantry

• Volunteered regularly at Oak Hill Elementary’s pantry

And she’s done it all without seeking the spotlight.

“She doesn’t look for attention, she looks for what needs to be done,” said Shanker.

A daily question with powerful results

When asked how she keeps going, especially through bureaucratic red tape and long hours,Zuckerman gives a simple answer.

“I just wake up every day wondering what I can do to make the world a little better,” she said. “It’s not about recognition. It’s about the people.”

Her father, Rabbi Stiffman, sees it as an extension of the legacy he and his wife hoped to build.

“We could not be prouder of her indefatigable work on behalf of the Afghan and Sudanese families,” he said.

For Zuckerman, the award is meaningful — but it’s not the destination.

“This is what we’re supposed to do,” she said. “That’s what Judaism taught me. That’s what my parents taught me. That’s what I hope my kids see too.”

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