11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141 | Phone: 314-569-0010 | Member Login 
11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141 | Phone: 314-569-0010 | Member Login
The clergy, directors and Lifelong Learning committee of Congregation Shaare Emeth are excited to introduce a new initiative called “MakomSTL: A Place for Jewish Learning.” Session One begins on October 18. MakomSTL will take place at Shaare Emeth on Wednesday evenings with a social gathering and refreshments at 7 p.m., followed by classes from 7:30 Continue Reading »
N’ilah is the final service of Yom Kippur. It takes place close to when the sun is setting, after a long day of fasting and spiritual work. It is a service designed to help us walk out of the sanctuary confident in our ability to keep the promises we have made and affect the changes Continue Reading »
“Neilah? What’s that?” I know, many Jews have long believed that the closing service on the day of Yom Kippur is the Yizkor, or memorial service, after which it is traditional for Jews to leave the synagogue, to beat the traffic, and go to an early break the fast. The truth, of course, could not Continue Reading »
Repentance and forgiveness have deep roots in the Jewish literary tradition. Studying these sacred texts deepens our understanding of the essence of Yom Kippur and helps facilitate our own process of teshuva. Mishkan Hanefesh provides a range of texts for such study as part of the Yom Kippur morning service. These texts are arranged chronologically, Continue Reading »
As we watch with dismay once again, our city and region are embroiled in painful dissent and angry protest spurred by the recent court verdict in the Stockley case. Like so many, we find the specifics of this case to be deeply disturbing. Once again, a bright spotlight is being cast on the injustice of Continue Reading »
Yes, we do. Confessional prayers (in Hebrew, vidui) are part of the Jewish process of atonement. Vidui prayers are traditionally recited each night as part of the bedtime Shema. There is also a deathbed confession and a service of confessional prayers that we say on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur we recite the vidui prayers Continue Reading »
I have fond memories of the Kol Nidrie of my childhood. I recall it as a service of unparalleled spectacle. The entire community was there, all packing into the sanctuary dressed for the holiday. As the ark was opened, the Congregation would rise together with a sense of solemn responsibility. We remained standing for what Continue Reading »
It has been another intense week of weather around the globe. Here in the states we know that the people of Texas are beginning their long recovery. Floridians, the people of Cuba and so many in the Caribbean, as well as the people of Georgia and the Carolinas, continue to be involved in rescue operations Continue Reading »
Upon entering a traditional synagogue on the evening of Yom Kippur, the solemn night of Kol Nidre, the haunting prayer of annulment of vows and forgiveness, one might be struck by something unusual. Unlike every other night of the Jewish year, when hardly a single tallit (prayer shawl) is seen in a traditional shul, Yom Continue Reading »
Throughout the course of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we will join together in Kaddish Yatom (the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer) numerous times. This prayer is said as we call to mind loved ones who have passed away, members of our families and community whom we miss. The last line of the Mourner’s Kaddish reads: Oseh Continue Reading »
