How’s this for living la vida loca, or whatever the Hebrew/Jewish equivalent is? 

No sooner do you accept a job as executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, than you’re off to Rome for an audience with Pope Francis.

That’s essentially what happened to Maharat Rori Picker Neiss of Bais Abraham Congregation. A little more than a week after the JCRC announcement, where she will take over Nov. 19 for Batya Abramson-Goldstein, who is retiring, Neiss flew to Rome to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (meaning “In Our Time”). Nostra Aetate is the Vatican II document that transformed Catholic relations with non-Christians, calling for mutual understanding, respect and supportive dialogue across religious traditions. In particular, Nostra Aetate radically reshaped relations with the Jewish world, condemning all forms of anti-Semitism.

“It was incredible to be in Rome, sitting just a few yards from the Pope as he spoke about the past 50 years and the importance of dialogue and relationships, thinking about how just a few hundred years ago the sight of a Pope might have instilled terror within Jews, but now we were eagerly waiting to shake hands with this Pope,” Neiss said, explaining that she had received a personal invitation over the summer to the symposium marking the anniversary because of ongoing work supporting interfaith relations. The event featured leading Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Catholic speakers, and culminated in a papal audience.

“I thought that after (the Pope’s) public audience we would be brought to him but instead he came off the stage and he walked to us,” Neiss continued. “There were two rows of people and he walked down the aisle, not only shaking hands and greeting each person, but speaking with every person. As he met each person he looked at them as if they were the only person there and had nothing but time for that particular person. It was incredible.” 

Neiss says that while there is still much work to be done in Catholic-Jewish relations, Nostra Aetate was a “profound testament” to how much work has already been done, and how much has changed in the world in just the past 50 years. 

Mind your manners

It’s been going on for years, but the 2016 session marks the first time non-Jewish youngsters can join their Jewish peers at Temple Israel’s Cotillion Program. Created for sixth and seventh graders (ages 11 to 13), the program hopes to educate Jewish and non-Jewish pre-teens about the traditions, etiquette, dance, music and social interactions they are likely to experience either having or attending a bar or bat mitzvah.

“I remember the awkwardness of some of my daughter’s friends who weren’t Jewish when they went into a synagogue,” said Marti Maurer, who leads the cotillion program. “This year, we wanted to broaden the program to include non-Jewish kids.”

Five classes, which run from 6 to 9 p.m. several Sundays evenings in January and February, delve into different aspects of the ceremony and reception, including how to dress, what the various blessings mean, how to thank the hosts and more. The series concludes with a “mock mitzvah” party for all the students to enjoy.

“They learn how to shake hands with adults, look them in the eye and say ‘thank you,’ ” said Maurer. “They learn table manners, how to dance the hora and other modern dances, too.

“Most of the boys will tell you they hate it and most of the girls will tell you it’s a lot of fun. I do think everyone does have a good time and learns in the process.”

Class schedule and topics are as follows:

• Jan. 10 – Meet and greet

• Jan. 24 – Hosting and guesting

• Jan. 31 – Thank you

• Feb. 21 – To the dance floor

• Feb. 28 – RSVP and mock mitzvah party (includes a special ice cream treat, prizes and T-shirt)

• *March 8 – Snow Date

The program is provided in partnership with Utopia Entertainment. Registration is $125 and includes all meetings, snacks and prizes. For more information on Cotillion or to download registration forms, visit  ti-stl.org/cotillion.

Friday night sights

Not sure what you’re up to Friday evening, but you might consider a stop at the Old North Restoration Group, 2700 N. 14th St., where the work of seven artists will kick off the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates (MIRA). “Looking Among Us: Cross-Cultural Connections” is inspired by a far-ranging set of muses from the Mississippi River to ancient Indian painting techniques. One of the artists is Jeane Vogel, a Central Reform congregant, whose work is heavily influenced by the Torah. Vogel has several pieces in the show, including two fiber pieces that focus on Chava (Eve), the mother goddess, surrounded by symbolism.

The exhibit opens with a wine and cheese reception from 6 to 9 p.m., and runs through Nov. 22. For more information, go to mira-mo.org.