There will be a book discussion of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak at the Brodsky Library, co-sponsored by the library, Jewish Community Relations Council, the Holocaust Museum and Washington University as a companion to the Big Read program developed by the National Endowment for the Arts. The discussion will be led by Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shaare Emeth. The Book Thief is a winner of a 2006 National Jewish Book Award. The program will be held at the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library on Thursday, Mar. 15, at 7 p.m. The library is located in the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive.

The cost for the program is $5 per person; free to Friends of the Brodsky Library; and reservations are required by Wednesday, Mar. 14.For more information or to make a reservation call 314-442-3720 or email [email protected].

Doctor will discuss kids’ mental health issues

The WINGS Program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service Lunch & Learn will present Medications & Children, a program on treating youth with mental health challenges.

The program will feature Dr. Robin Park, a physician, child psychiatrist and professor who taught in the St. Louis University’s School of Medicine for over 15 years.

It will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 13, at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Dr., 63146.

Lunch is available for $6 and $7.

To reserve a space, contact Sara Bromberg at 314-812-9366 or e-mail at [email protected].

Two events scheduled to celebrate Purim

Two community-wide Purim events will be held on Mar. 4. These events are not sponsored by any organization or synagogue. The St. Louis Annual Purim Re-enactment Parade will begin at 2 p.m. at Gay and Cornell in University City. A Women’s Megillah Reading, a traditional reading of the Book of Esther, by and for women will be held at 7916 Stanford Ave., University City.

Chabad will demonstrate how to make hamentashen

Chabad of Chesterfield will conduct a “Hamentash Demonstration” at 11 a.m. Sunday, Mar. 4, at Trader Joe’s of Chesterfield. Participants will learn the art of making delicious hamentashen. For further information visit our website at www.ChabadOfChesterfield.com or call 636-778-4000 or e-mail [email protected].

Rabbis Zimand and Taub will partner for adult education

This year Rabbi Ephraim I. Zimand will partner with Rabbi Joshua Taub of Temple Emanuel for the adult education presentations. Rabbi Zimand will make three presentations at Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Road on the topic: “Maimonides on Character,” on Monday evenings, Mar. 5, 12 and 19. Rabbi Taub will make three presentations here at Traditional Congregation, 12437 Ladue Road, on the “Sex in the Text: Sexuality in the Biblical Narrative,” on Wednesday evenings, Apr. 11, 18 and 25.

Pharaoh’s Daughter will perform concert, Mar. 11

Congregation B’nai Amoona will present a concert by Pharaoh’s Daughter at 7 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 11. Pharaoh’s Daughter is a six-piece, New York-based ensemble that blends Chasidic music with folk rock and a Middle Eastern flavor. General admission tickets are $18. Reserved seats are $36 and $72. Special sponsorships are available for $500 and $1,000.

Volunteers sought for camp

Partnership 2000 is sponsoring four volunteers (ages 17-25) from St. Louis to participate in a summer camp in Yokneam/Megiddo July 1-31. The program pays for the flight plus a $500 stipend. Applicants will need to submit a brief essay about why they are interested, if they have been to Israel before, if they have prior camp experience, and any other information they think would be pertinent. The deadline for applying is Mar. 10. To apply, those interested should e-mail Joyce Becker at [email protected]. Orientation meetings begin June 24.

The Auxiliary, JCA to hold Purim luncheon

The Auxiliary, JCA will have a Purim luncheon at noon Tuesday, Mar. 13 in the Plaza Building at the Cedars of the JCA, 13019 South Outer Forty Road. Kent Ehrhardt, chief meteorologist at Channel 4, will be the featured guest. The cost is $10. Make checks payable to The Auxiliary, JCA and send to Fran Cohen, 10 Spoede Woods, St. Louis, Mo. 63141. Call Susie Harris at 314-503-7875.

Chabad on Campus kicks off Purim at Bar Italia

Chabad on Campus has partnered with JGrads, the Jewish Graduate Association, and will be celebrating the fun and spirited Jewish festival of Purim at Bar Italia in the Central West End. The party, which is open to graduate students and recent grads, will be held on Saturday, Mar. 3, beginning at 10 p.m. Holiday foods will be provided free of charge, including authentic hamantashen pastries, and drinks will be available for purchase.

Bar Italia’s Caf é Luna, which is located at 13 Maryland Plaza, St. Louis, will be made kosher specially for this event. While admission is free, RSVPs are suggested at www.chabadoncampus.org or on the event listing on www.facebook.com.

To enable those interested in hearing the narrative of Purim, the Book of Esther will be chanted. Call 314-757-2884 for more information.

Shaare Emeth to host annual Purim carnival, Mar. 4

Congregation Shaare Emeth will host its annual Purim Celebration on Sun., Mar. 4 beginning at 10:30 a.m. with an intergenerational service followed by a carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes carnival games, prizes, a moonwalk, raffle and plenty of delicious food.

It will be held at Congregation Shaare Emeth located at 11645 Ladue Rd.

Purim commemorates the defeat led by Mordecai and his niece Esther of a plot by the wicked Haman to destroy the Jews in 450 B.C.E. Costumes are often worn and stories are told to remind Jews about the importance of Persian Jewry being saved from its enemy. Purim represents the ability of the Jewish people to survive and flourish in the face of adversity.

The carnival is free and open to the public.

Tickets are four for a dollar for the carnival activities and food, or unlimited use wristbands can be purchased at the door for $14. Receive a free raffle ticket with advance purchase of wristbands. For more information, call Ronnie Brockman at 314-569-0010.

Sheldon Low set to come to Shaare Emeth Mar. 9

St. Louis native Sheldon Low will lead a lively and energetic Kabbalat Service at Congregation Shaare Emeth on Friday evening Mar. 9 at 6 p.m. at the congregation’s regular “Shir Shabbat” service.

Low is one of the newest faces in Jewish Rock music. He has been traveling the country as a singer/songwriter and educator. His incredible energy will inspire all ages. Please join the congregation for his upbeat, inspirational My Shabbat.

‘It’s Friday Night’ returns

After an absence of four years “It’s Friday Night!” a warm and welcoming Shabbat dinner for singles 45 and over will be held at a home in Clayton at 7 p.m. on Mar. 16. The dinner is open to the community and will be led by a rabbi. The dinners, held every two to three months, fill a need for those who because of death, divorce or other circumstances no longer have the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat with other Jews. “It’s Friday Night’s!” motto is “Come alone — You’ll feel at home.” As a community service the dinners are supported by B’nai Amoona. The cost is $12.75. Reservations can be held only with a check. The deadline for reservations is Mar. 12 and space is limited. For reservations call Harlie at 314-645-5297 or Phyllis at 314-469-1776.

SMDS-RJA to host events

There are several upcoming dates of interest at Saul Mirowitz Day School-Reform Jewish Academy. On Friday, Mar. 2, the first grade will hold a Simchat Siddur ceremony at 8:30 a.m. On Thurs., Mar. 1, the Metro Theater Company performance of Kerfafels will be staged for grades K-2. On Monday, Mar. 5, the company will stage Long Road to Freedom for grades 3-5. Call 314-569-2692.

CAJE announces merit-based scholarships

The Central Agency for Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation announce the availability of merit-based scholarships for high school students participating in an Israel experience program in 2007. Israel scholarships will be awarded to two high school students on the basis of their activities in the Jewish community and their commitment to Jewish education. The awards are allocated from the Stuart I. Pessin Scholarship Fund.

To apply for the Pessin Scholarships, students must complete an application and submit a resume of activities and an essay. Applications and essay information are available through Karen Rader at CAJE, 12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, Mo., 63146. Completed submissions are due by Mar. 30, 2007. Call 314-442-3756 or e-mail [email protected].

Author will speak at benefit for SLU initiative

Anna Lapp é, author of the best-selling Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet, will speak at a dinner to raise funds for a hands-on Saint Louis University project that teaches elementary and middle school students about gardening, cooking and nutrition. The fundraiser for the Garden to Table project will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Mar. 5 in Fresh Gatherings Cafe, in the lower level of the Doisy College of Health Sciences building, 3437 Caroline Mall on Saint Louis University’s campus. A gourmet dinner will be served. Tickets are $50 and include an autographed book. Call 314-977-8523.

Shaare Emeth will host Rabbi Naomi Levy

Congregation Shaare Emeth will host Rabbi Naomi Levy as the Fred and Elsie Deutch Scholar in Residence throughout the weekend of March 16-18.

On Friday evening, she will speak on “Life Under Construction: Learning How to Begin Again.” On Saturday afternoon her topic will be “Talking to God: How Prayer Can Heal our Bodies and Souls” and on Sunday morning participants will hear her speak on “Spiritual Parenting and Grandparenting: Discovering our Own Spiritual Strength as We Mentor our Children”

Call 314-569-0010 for more information.