The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,000 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, recently announced the launch of CJV Missouri, to pursue its mission of promoting traditional Jewish values with legislators, media and the public at the state and local level. It is the first state chapter of the CJV and will be chaired by Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, who has served as Midwestern Regional Vice President of the organization since 2020, and who recently retired after decades leading Nusach Hari B’nai Zion Congregation in Olivette.

“Missourians generally uphold traditional values,” said Smason, “yet today are confronted with distortions of the authentic Jewish positions on life, gender, and even antisemitism. This new CJV state chapter will be a crucial voice in correcting the record.”

CJV Missouri was launched at a private gathering, at which Smason was joined by CJV President Emeritus Rabbi Pesach Lerner and Managing Director Rabbi Yaakov Menken. Rabbi Yonason Goldson has agreed to serve as executive vice president of the new organization.

“Many issues we deal with begin at the local level,” said Menken. “By the time they receive national attention, the situation is much more complicated. We need to be educating and advocating at the state and local level, for maximal benefit for all Americans.”

CJV Missouri has provided testimony before the state legislature in Jefferson City and had a letter appear in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.