From the resignation of the first Jewish governor of Missouri amid scandals and lawsuits to the resignation of the President and CEO ofJewish Federation of St. Louis because of a job offer he couldn’t refuse, 2018 was a notable year in the St. Louis Jewish world. Here we look back at some of the local high points and low points, Jewishly speaking. 

January 

On Jan. 10, hours after his State of the Union address, Eric Greitens, the first Jewish governor of Missouri, admitted that he had an affair in 2015. The ex-husband of the mistress secretly recorded a conversation in which the woman tells him that Greitens, a Republican, took a photo of her tied up and partly undressed. She alleged that Greitens threatened to release the photo if she went public about the affair. The Republican Jewish Coalition responded to the allegations by describing Greitens as “family.”

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Amidst concerns that the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel was growing, a pair of state senators, Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City and Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, introduced legislation that would bar businesses that engage in a boycott of Israel from receiving state contracts. The lawmakers said they were not aware of any businesses that had supported a boycott of the Jewish State and tried to business with Missouri. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis supported the bill, while groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the legislation and similar bills in other states on the grounds that they violate free speech rights. The House approved the legislation, but it ultimately stalled in the Senate because of a filibuster by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph. 

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Kathleen Sitzer announced that she was retiring after 21 years leading the New Jewish Theatre at the Jewish Community Center. When asked what she was most proud of during her tenure, she said, “the artist growth of the theater. We are considered the premier small professional theater in the area. The artist quality is at the very top, barring none.” In April, NJT named Edward Coffield, who had been the associate artistic director, as Sitzer’s successor. 

February

Prior to a speech at the RJC’s annual conference, Greitens announced that the Missouri National Guard would train with the Israeli Defense Forces. 

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New Mount Sinai Cemetery Association hired Donald Meissner as its new executive director. He replaced Daniel Brodsky, who spent 11 years in the position. Meissner had previously served as the community outreach coordinator at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. 

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Feb. 20 marked the one-year anniversary of when Chesed Shel Emeth staff discovered that 150 headstones were knocked over. Since then, Jewish Federation of St. Louis spent more than $136,000 to upgrade security at nine local Jewish cemeteries.

March

The Jewish Light hired Scott Berzon as its new executive director. He had spent four years as director of the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. “I am delighted to join a team of newspaper professionals who are devoted to keeping the community engaged with local, Jewish content,” said Berzon.

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A month after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., hundreds of Jews participated in the St. Louis March for Our Lives on March 24 and in a National School Walkout that week in an effort to prevent more mass shootings.  “When I heard about everything in Parkland, I was incredibly heartbroken,” said Lauren Bayne, 17, the social action vice president of Congregation Shaare Emeth’s chapter of National Federation of Temple Youth. “The fact that there hasn’t been anything done about gun violence in decades is really disheartening.”

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The J announced that local philanthropist Michael Staenberg would receive the national Frank L. Weil Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Jewish Community Field by a Lay Leader. 

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Jewish Family & Children’s Service began its Jewish Disability Care Connect Program for people of all ages with physical or intellectual disabilities. The program aims to link clients with educational and recreational opportunities, life skills training, housing support and support groups, and to provide assistance with receiving government benefits, among other services.

April 

The Missouri House released a report detailing allegations that Greitens had been abusive towards the woman with whom he had an affair in 2015. That prompted people and organizations across the Jewish community to call for his resignation. Andrew Rehfeld, president and CEO of Federation, said the organization “does not take political sides but at the same time we depend on good governance for our region and state and we can’t effectively advocate for the welfare of the most vulnerable and poor unless we have a good partnership (with government) and strong leadership.” 

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Congregation B’nai Amoona held a groundbreaking for its $10 million renovation. Plans included adding 5,000 square feet to a walkway connecting different parts of the building to transform it into a gallery; and relocating and expanding the size of the chapel. 

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To celebrate the 70-year anniversary of Israel’s founding, more than 700 people gathered at Congregation Temple Israel and walked one and a half miles down Ladue Road to Shaare Emeth. “This a remarkable way for us to celebrate our love for Israel…and to everyone we say, ‘Todah rabah and mazel tov,’ ” said Rabbi James Bennett of Shaare Emeth.

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More than a year after the vandalism at Chesed Shel Emeth, the police arrested Alzado Harris following an alleged confession. Police had obtained DNA from a jacket left underneath one of the more than 150 headstones that were damaged or knocked over in February 2017. Harris, 34, was required to provide a DNA sample in December when he entered prison for a different crime. Harris allegedly told police that he was angry after an argument with a friend and was drunk and high on marijuana when the crime occurred, according to St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch. Police charged him with institutional vandalism, a class D felony.

May

In the wake of President Donald Trump moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and deciding to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal, Jews in St. Louis reacted positively and negatively to both decisions. However, each side expressed concern about what these decisions will mean for the future of Israel, the United States and the Mideast. 

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The Jewish Light honored its 9^th annual Unsung Heroes — volunteers who “fly under the radar” but selflessly give of their time and talents to benefit others. The 2018 Heroes were Robert Stein, Sophie Malik, Arik Levy, Hannah Maurer, Susie Spitzer Kinsella, Steve Gorin, Maxine Mirowitz, Jan Abrams, David Lander and Susan Kottler.

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Greitens announced his decision to resign as Missouri governor effective June 1, following a brief term in office filled with allegations of unethical and illegal conduct. As a result, the St. Louis circuit attorney’s office dismissed a felony charge against him stemming from campaign finance violations.

June 

As St. Louis’ beloved Muny Opera turns 100, Jewish St. Louisan celebrated by sharing their treasure trove of memories. “I started taking my children when they were 8 and 10,” remembered Arlene O’Connell, a member of B’nai Amoona. “One of my daughters is a theater teacher and the other is a musician, so yes, they loved the theater. Loved it, loved it, loved it!”

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The 23^rd annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival takes place from June 3-7, highlights of which included documentaries about Sammy Davis Jr., Itzhak Perlman and Hedy Lamarr, and features such as the Israeli psychological thriller “Shelter” and the Israeli/Austrian caper “The Testament.”

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More than 40 people walked silently from Tower Grove Park to the International Institute to call attention to the Trump administration treatment of refugees. They were holding signs of the people aboard the MS St. Louis, which in 1939 was turned away from the United States and Canada and sent back to Europe. Many of the passengers then died in the Holocaust. The Jewish Community Relations Council organized the walk, which included a number of local clergy from all faiths. 

July

Four local congregations engaged new rabbis, all of who began this month. Rabbis Daniel and Karen Bogard, who are married, joined Central Reform Congregation, job sharing to fill the role as assistant rabbi; Rabbi Adam Bellows became an assistant rabbi at United Hebrew, and Rabbi Lori Levine is running the religious school at Shaare Emeth.

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The National Council of Jewish Women organized a press conference downtown to protest President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. The purpose was to call attention to the damage Kavanaugh’s vote could do to abortion rights, voting rights and LGBTQ rights. Ultimately, Kavanaugh was confirmed and sworn in as the 114^th Supreme Court justice in October.

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Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates nonprofit groups in the United States, gives Federation its highest possible rating of four stars. Only a quarter of the organizations it evaluates receive a four-star rating, according to the organization.

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Jewish groups partner for a second year with the International Institute of St. Louis to host a summer camp for the children of immigrants and new refugee families. 

August

The Jewish Light announces that it is now available free of charge, including to anyone who wants home or office delivery. The major reason for making the switch to free from its former paid subscription model is to get the paper in the hands of more readers.

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More than 125 people gathered as Kol Rinah broke ground on the first of two phases of construction at its future home in Clayton. The $7 million project at the former Journey Christian Church. Meanwhile, the church has relocated to the synagogue’s former space in University City. 

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Nusach Hari B’nai Zion Rabbi Ze’ev Smason marked a decade of his “Rabbi Ride Around,” which had him biking 50 miles around Forest Park. The event aims to raise money for the synagogue’s educational programs.

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Federation launched its annual campaign, hoping to reach its $10 million goal. The nonprofit, which supports nearly 100 Jewish agencies, programs and services, concentrates its fundraising efforts over 100 days.

September

JF&CS received a $1.2 million donation from an anonymous supporter, according to the nonprofit organization. Laura Robbins, JF&CS chief development officer, said the donor contacted the organization earlier this year and said, “I am trying to find a place that is close to my heart where I can make a donation when I pass away, which may be very soon.” The donor died six months later.

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St. Louis’ Reform synagogues joined forces to launch a new initiative to engage teens in Jewish life. Known as the Reform Teen Initiative, the partnership hopes to create new entry points to Jewish life and strengthen existing opportunities for teens. Stacy Bernstein will serve as the project’s coordinator, working closely with congregational youth professionals, clergy, other synagogue staff and teens.

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Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., met with Andrew Rehfeld of Federation. Rehfeld told the Jewish Light that the three primary topics were immigration issues, senior services and the “state of bipartisanship in the national discourse.” Blunt also met with leaders of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis.

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Federation’s 117th Annual Meeting unveiled the results of a $3.5 million renovation of the Federation building, which has been renamed the Kaplan Feldman Complex. More than 350 people attended the event, which also paid tribute to Eli M. Abeles, who died Sept. 10 at age 40 from renal cancer. Abeles along with Erin Schneider had been selected as the two recipients of Federation’s 2018 David N. and Roselin Grosberg Young Leadership Award.

October

Rabbi Aaron Winter, spiritual leader of Tpheris Israel Chevra Kadisha (TICK), an Orthodox synagogue in Chesterfield, died Thursday, Oct. 4. He was 69 and had resided in Chesterfield since arriving here to take up his rabbinic duties at TICK in 1989. Under Rabbi Winter’s leadership, TICK established the Chesterfield community eruv and built a full-service, state-of-the-art mikvah. Most recently, he established the Chesterfield Community Kollel and helped lead the drive to bring to Chesterfield the Missouri Torah Institute, a high school for boys.

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MaTovu opened in the Botanical Heights neighborhood. The Jewish center, at 4200 Blaine Ave., is located in a long-vacant former synagogue building that housed an Orthodox congregation. In 1944, the congregation sold the building to Unity Temple, and it was used for Christian services for many years. MaTovu organizers said the group does not plan to hire a rabbi or function as a synagogue, but will serve as  “…a resource for the entire Jewish community” that will “partner with all of the different synagogues and rabbis and do programming that is religious, spiritual and cultural.”

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Federation and the J held the first Sababa Jewish Arts Festival at Washington University. The Jewish arts festival showcased today’s vibrant Jewish culture and featured Jewish art, food and music. The word “sababa” is modern Hebrew slang for “awesome” or “cool.” Organizers said they hope Sababa will become a biennial festival.

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Shaare Emeth hosted a forum for candidates in Missouri’s second congressional district. Democrat Cort VanOstran and Libertarian Larry Kirk participated —the incumbent and eventual winner, Republican Ann Wagner, did not attend. The League of Women Voters moderated the debate. Also in the run-up to the election, Shaare Emeth led a voter-registration drive and started a Vote Your Values campaign as part of an effort to increase the number of members who are active in social justice.

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Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg of United Hebrew Congregation participated in a North American Unity Mission to Israel, which included meetings with Israeli officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group of 20 rabbis from the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements aimed to “stress our commitment to the unity of the Jewish people, to affirm our unbreakable bond with and support for the State of Israel, and to discuss our concerns,” the group said in a statement.

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More than 1,500 people attended a St. Louis Jewish community vigil at the J for the victims of the mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The Oct. 27 shooting claimed the lives of 11 people and injured six others. Local interfaith clergy, and Missouri political leaders including Sen. Roy Blunt, Rep. Ann Wagner, and State Sen. Jill Schupp. Gov. Mike Parson was unable to attend the vigil, but he traveled to St. Louis to meet with Jewish community leaders a few days later in response to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.

November

Peter Sagal, the host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” kicked off the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival at the Jewish Community Center. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the festival, which welcomed three dozen authors during a two-week period.

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Elad Gross, an attorney from St. Louis, announced he is running for Missouri attorney general. Gross, a Jewish Democrat, served as an assistant attorney general under Chris Koster. Gross made headlines earlier this year for filing a lawsuit aimed at forcing a nonprofit associated with Greitens to reveal donor records.

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Pastor Carlos Smith of the Journey church and Rabbi Noah Arnow of Conservative synagogue Kol Rinah took part in a mission trip to Israel intended to build connections between seven pairs of rabbis and African-American Christian clergy from different cities. The Journey moved into Kol Rinah’s home in University City, while Kol Rinah is remodeling the Journey’s former space in Clayton, where it hopes to move next summer. Until then, Kol Rinah is sharing the U. City space with the Journey.

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A local nonprofit launched a new online platform that allows donors to give directly to Jewish causes. J-Givable (https://givable.org/j) sends participants two emails each week with information on Jewish projects to which they can donate. The initiative is a variation on Givable, a platform that St. Louis philanthropist Michael Staenberg started last year. He launched J-Givable, a partnership with Jewish Federation of St. Louis, after brainstorming with Federation President and CEO Andrew Rehfeld. 

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The Anti-Defamation League and other partners held a national conference at Washington University as part of the Communities Overcoming Extremism: The After Charlottesville Project. The summit brought together groups from the left and the right to look at extremism and political violence.

December 

A St. Louisan contributed to the viral Hanukah parody video “Bohemian Hanukkah” that made the rounds on social media this year. The take on Queen’s iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody” was performed by a capella group Six13, which includes Creve Coeur native Lior Melnick, who grew up attending Traditional Congregation and who attended Solomon Schechter Day School. Melnick, a transportation engineer now living and working in New York City, is Six13’s newest member. 

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Andrew Rehfeld announced he is leaving his position at Federation to become the 13th president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). Rehfeld will begin his new appointment with HUC-JIR on April 1, and plans to stay at Federation until March 31.  Rehfeld, who began his tenure with Federation on Sept. 1, 2012, succeeds Rabbi Aaron Panken at HUC-JIR. Panken died in May when the small plane he was piloting crashed about 70 miles northwest of New York City.

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Congregation Temple volunteers organized a free Holiday Gift Store at Monroe Elementary School in south St. Louis. Monroe parents facing various challenges were able to select gifts for their children for the holidays. Temple Israel members donated the toys, books, board games and other gift items. Volunteers staffing the “store,” wrapped the items the parents selected. 

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