Chazak, Chazak, v’Nitchazeik – “Be Strong, Be Strong, and We Will Strengthen One Another”
Saturday, November 7, 2020
7 p.m. – Online
One of St. Louis’ most beloved entertainers will join Congregation Shaare Emeth for its biggest fundraiser of the year.
Andy Cohen, whose rise to TV stardom began right here in St. Louis, will appear as the featured entertainer for Congregation Shaare Emeth’s 2020 Heart & Soul virtual celebration.
Cohen is an American radio and television talk show host, producer, and writer. He is the host and executive producer of Bravo’s late-night talk show, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Cohen also has a pop culture channel on SiriusXM Radio named Radio Andy.
A native of St. Louis, Patty Croughan returned home to begin her career after earning her Masters Degree from Simmons College School of Social Work in 1970. Her professional life now spans 50 years, and has included early years as a caseworker at what was then known as Jewish Family and Children’s Services, several years of post-graduate work in psychodynamic psychotherapy, teaching at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work and many years in the practice of outpatient psychotherapy.
Her work has been focused on individual adults, couples, and groups, people with serious illness and those who have suffered traumatic losses. Currently, she co-facilitates support groups through the Wife, Widow, Woman program of the National Council of Jewish Women.
Patty has been extremely lucky to also enjoy a rich and varied volunteer career. With Shaare Emeth as her home base, she learned from many mentors on temple committees throughout the 1990s, and then as President of the congregation from 2001-2003. For the next 16 years, she worked on projects through the Jewish Federation, and spent many years helping to steward a multi-year program in St. Louis’ partnership community of Yokneam-Megiddo, which was (and is) geared toward helping to integrate Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in the region.
In 2013, Patty became the third woman Board Chair of the Federation, with the wish to help expand the umbrella of the community to be more inclusive and responsive to the entire Jewish community, and to focus on meaningful leadership development opportunities for the next generation. During her tenure, the Federation undertook an important community study to more clearly understand the strengths and needs in our community, and implementation of the results of that study continues today.
Currently, Patty serves as the Chair of the Millstone Institute Advisory Committee. In accepting the community service award, she wants to pay especial tribute to her late husband Jack, who shared the values of community service and giving back as integral parts of lives well-lived. He was her greatest support and cheerleader, and she, his. In his not-so-spare time, he started the Impaired Physicians Program of the Missouri State Medical Association, designed to help physicians with mental health or addiction problems. He also worked closely with impaired priests, and served as the medical director of a community mental health system serving chronically ill people. He was a devoted healer, and, as Mike Lefton would say, a raving fan of Shaare Emeth. Patty shares this award with him.
Thank you for all you have done and mazel tov Patty!
The Harris Frank Community Service Award has been established to recognize members of Shaare Emeth who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Congregation, the St. Louis Jewish community, and the greater St. Louis community.
Since they joined Congregation Shaare Emeth in 1965, Gail and Charles Eisenkramer have demonstrated a heartfelt and continuous commitment to their Shaare Emeth community and to the greater Jewish community. Gail is past President of the Shaare Emeth Sisterhood and current President of the National Council of Jewish Women. Charles is the past President of Congregation Shaare Emeth, The JCCA and The New Mt. Sinai Cemetery Board and currently serves on the Enterprise Bank and Trust Board of Directors. Charles also served eight years on the national Board for the Union for Reform Judaism. They are the proud parents of Jill Bernstein and Chuck Eisenkramer, and the proud grandparents of Elissa, Stacy, and Jordan Bernstein, and Seth and Jacob Eisenkramer. They have handed down their commitment to the Jewish community to each member of their family, emphasizing the importance of engagement, leadership, and philanthropy. Their nonstop involvement and ongoing dedication to the Jewish community and to Congregation Shaare Emeth, combined with their focus on instilling these values into the younger generation, make Gail and Charles the perfect recipients of this year’s L’dor Va’Dor Award. Thank you for all of you have done, and mazel tov Gail and Charles and family.
The L’dor Va’dor Award recognizes and honors families whose dedication and commitment to Congregation Shaare Emeth has continued for multiple generations. This family has had a significant and meaningful impact on the congregation through engagement, generosity, and leadership.
Click HERE for more information on our different sponsorship opportunities.
Sue Matlof*
Pam and Ron Rubin*
The Bohm Family
The Clergy of Shaare Emeth
Merle Fox*
Joy and Jay Liss
Brenda and Joseph Pereles*
Gail and Charles Eisenkramer
Sharon Greenberg*
Debbie and Mike Lefton*
Marilyn and Ken Steinback*
Kathy Zigler*
Berger Memorial Chapel
Lorry and Richard Blath
Michael Bobroff*
Nanci and James Bobrow
Marilyn and Dick Brickson*
Sharon and Richard Cohen
Patty Croughan
Betsy and Ron Cytron*
Madeleine Elkins and Harvey Wallace
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Sharee and Mark Feldman
Paula and Mike Geigerman
Sherri and Richard Goldman
Nancy and Randy Green*
Sheila Greenbaum and Gary Wasserman
Ellen and Ron Gross
HWP Rigging
Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Jackie and Ken Kleban
Gerry Kowarsky
Jerri and Bill Livingston, Jr.*
Fran and Chuck Mannis
Julia and Larry Mendelow
Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel
Jennifer and Craig Rosenthal
Leanne and Harvey Schneider
Norman Schwesig*
Michele Shoresman and Gary Bilow
Renee and Sam Silverstein
Rosalie and Bob Stein
Rabbi Jeffrey and Arlene Stiffman
Karen Suroff and Oscar Schwartz
Mona and Larry Swedroe*
Stacey and Josh Wallach*
Sue and Al Wallach*
Wellco, LLC
Roma Wittcoff
Susan and Alan Witte
*Denotes Emet Society Members