“Joining Hands as a Community” will be the theme of the fifth annual Shabbat St. Louis, a community Shabbat morning worship service during Passover on Saturday, March 30. The service will begin at 10 a.m. at Congregation Temple Israel, 1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive in Creve Coeur. Interactive Torah study with rabbis from some of the participating congregations will be offered from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and a Passover Kiddush will follow the service.

The entire community is invited to attend the service, which will be led by members of Reform and Reconstructionist synagogues from throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and by students from the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School.  HaShemesh will provide musical accompaniment, along with some local teen song leaders.  The service will be sign interpreted and assistive hearing devices will be available.

The event will also include a food drive to benefit the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry.  Those attending the service are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food items.

Shabbat St. Louis was initiated five years ago to bring renewed ruach (spirit) to Shabbat morning worship and to encourage collaboration within the Jewish community.  The Shabbat during Passover was chosen for this community-wide service because it enables the greatest number of congregations to participate.

Participating organizations include B’nai El Congregation, Congregation B’nai Torah, Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, Congregation Shaare Emeth, Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community, Temple Emanuel, Temple Israel of Alton, Ill., Congregation Temple Israel of St. Louis, and United Hebrew Congregation.

Additional sponsorship support is provided by Berger Memorial Chapel, New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, and Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel.

For more information, visit www.shabbatstlouis.org or contact Carol Wolf Solomon, 314-432-8050 or [email protected].