Nusach Hari B’nai Zion will hold its inaugural kosher barbecue competition and festival from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11.  

This event, which organizers say is being patterned after successful Kosher Barbecue competitions held annually in Kansas City, Chicago, Memphis, New York City, Dallas and Charlotte, N.C., will be held at NHBZ, 650 N. Price Road in Olivette.

 The St. Louis Kosher Barbecue Competition has been officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Association, an organization with 20,000 members that sanctions more than 450 contests a year in North America and Europe, and has certified more than 26,000 judges. 

As a kosher barbecue competition, all teams will purchase meat and use grills, smokers and utensils provided by NHBZ.

The family-oriented community event will also include sponsor booths, tasting booths, children’s activities, live music and activities honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11. 

Various sponsorship levels are available and all sponsors will be prominently recognized in printed materials including advertisements throughout the community, on websites and social media along with banners at the event.  Sponsors include Jewish Federation of St. Louis, the Staenberg Family Foundation, Kohn’s, The Estates of St. Louis and the St. Louis Jewish Light. 

Teams can enter representing community organizations, synagogues or temples, men’s clubs, sisterhoods, neighborhoods, families or a collection of friends. Teams are encouraged to register early as space is limited.  

Entrance forms and the official rules are available from the synagogue or at nhbz.org.