Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur
12437 Ladue Road
St. Louis, MO 63141-8100
Phone: (314)576-5230  Fax: (314)576-1162
Office e-mail: tradcong@sbcglobal.net

Seth D. Gordon, Rabbi
rabbigordon@tradcong.org

Ephraim I. Zimand, Rabbi Emeritus

 Our Purpose 

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Our History

The Chesed Committee was established in 1984 after Scholar-in-Residence Danny Siegel highlighted the importance of doing acts of kindness.  Dr. Martin Bell, the committee's first chairperson, catapulted the concept into action. Dedicated individuals worked to expand the activities of the committee.  Initially, the Chesed Committee purchased food for the High Holy Days, collected clothing for the needy, visited the sick in hospitals, and collected funds in minyan pishkas.  In the years since, the Chesed Committee has widened its scope of activities.  

Connecting to God, Each Other
and the Earth

Project Noah 2007 Community Events 

Three community programs will kick-off the week of activities on Sunday, October 7. The keynote for Project Noah will take place at 7:00 pm featuring Dr. Jeffrey P. Bonner, President of the St. Louis Zoo. Dr. Bonner will discuss “Sailing with Noah,” an intensely personal, behind-the-scenes look at protecting animals. The program will take place at congregation B’Nai Amoona, Mason & Conway Roads. Dr. Bonner will explore the role of zoos in today’s society and he will relate a variety of true stories about animals and those who care for them with compassion and humor. The emphasis of the program will be on protecting animals and their habitat for future generations. As Bonner discusses in his book, “The point is that, second only to our obligation to our fellow man, we have an obligation to care for the living things of the earth. It’s about stewardship…we are our brother’s keeper, and just as much, we are keepers of all of God’s creation.” Dr. Bonner’s presentation is free of charge. Educational materials about environmental awareness and advocacy will be available. A book signing will follow the lecture.

During the morning of October 7, “Noah’s Ark…Creatures Big and Small” a program for children ages 2-6 and their families will take place at the JCC Wohl Building from 10:00 –11:30 am. Children will explore life on the ark during the Great Flood with a St. Louis Zoo educator. Children will also meet and greet friendly zoo animals of all sizes and take a trip into Noah’s Art Gallery to develop an appreciation for animals and the Jewish value of protecting our natural environment. The fee is $5.00 per child member and $7.00 per non-member.

Alan Elfanbaum
Environmental Action Committee

Hearing Support Dogs

WHY CAN’T YOU PET ME? 

Claire Hack’s support dog is about 3 years old. He is an American Eskimo mix, and was selected by Cindy Vickers, a private trainer, after reviewing approximately 65 other dogs. She has been working with the Hack family to train him for the last six months. It generally takes a full year to train a support dog. He is currently being trained to alert Claire to the doorbell or knocking, the telephone, the teakettle, the kitchen timer and Claire’s name said in a commanding voice. When alerted, he runs to the source of the sound, returns to tap Claire on the leg, and then leads her back to the source of the sound. It is vital that Claire and the dog stay together as much as possible to further the bond between them. It is equally important that the dog not be left at home alone. We should also understand that these dogs are trained for work, NOT play, so please do NOT pet them. Support dogs should in fact be ignored. The vests that they wear indicate that they are official working dogs.  By Federal Law, support dogs are allowed in public accommodations, including restaurants and airplanes. Thank you for understanding.

Want to support a synagogue in the former USSR? We need some one interested to look into the details. Contact Chicago Action for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, Susan Fulterman (847-433-0144) or Marilyn Tullman (847-550-0792).  Locally contact Sally Volotsky (314-692-0860) who also can give us direction.

Adopt-A-Student Letters

I was born in Ethiopia in the region of Gondar. I first came to Israel when I was 12 years old…When I graduated high school, I started my army service for three years. After I was released from the army, I worked for two years in odd jobs, and then started prep school in Bar Ilan University. Today I study in the academic track, combining social sciences and logistics and economics. I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help. I have no words to express fully the many thanks I feel for you. I hope that one day I’ll be able to donate back to society, as you do for me.

Sincerely, Solomon Rata

*** 

I was born in a small village called “Chait” in the province of Gondar in Ethiopia. I came to Israel with my entire family when I was 14 years old…During 2004 I did one year of national service, during which I served as a tutor for children between the first and fourth grades…After completing my service I began my academic studies of Biotechnology and Medical Instruments in Hadassah, Jerusalem. My studies are difficult and I am at the hospital five days a week…I observe the Sabbath so there is absolutely no time for me to work yet…We are a family of eight. I am my parents’ oldest child. My father is currently unemployed and my mother does odd jobs…I wish to thank you for your donation. Without your help, I would have encountered many more financial problems. I really thank you with all my heart.

Sincerely, Zerfe Beza

We would like to continue supporting Ethiopian Jewish Students studying in Israel through the Adopt-A-Student Program. Our goal to support one student for one year is $1080. 

Please send your contribution to Traditional Congregation Chesed Committee and mark it for “Adopt-A-Student”

Ongoing Chesed Committee
Events and Programs

Please help the chesed committee help others:

We are looking for a new Chairperson.  Anyone interested, please notify President Alan Rosenberg, 314-434-6671.

1) The Jewish Food Pantry.  Contact Louise Saltzman (314-567-7397). Food donations, Yom Kippur food collection drive, Rosh Chodesh food baskets. We are not collecting nearly enough food for what is needed.  Consider every time you go to the grocery to pick up one extra item for the food pantry.  Bring it to the pantry yourself or drop it off at the synagogue in the food basket.

2) Nursing home visitation.  Contact Shelby Kopp (314-991-1035).  Every Jewish holiday five dedicated congregants go to Brooking Park extended care facility on Woods Mill Road directly across from St. Lukes Hospital, west at the light.  These members celebrate the holiday with the Jewish residents there (about 15) and bring joy to them.  It is always a wonderful experience for them, and for us!  Please join us! You will be glad you did.

3) Winter Clothing Drive.  Contact Judy Levin (314-432-0834).  November is the time to think of persons who will need warm clothes to get through the winter.  Please bring what you can to the synagogue in the month of November.  We distribute it to shelters and agencies where the need can be filled.

4) Ethiopian Student support.  Contact Stanley Estrin (314-993-1517). Once a year we collect funds ($1080.00) to support a Jewish Ethiopian student in Israel to obtain an education.  Most Ethiopians are not well to do and usually have escaped Ethiopia with just their lives, partially intact at that.  They usually have horrific stories of survival.  Their families are frequently separated.  Please help if you can.  The student appreciates it tremendously, and the Ethiopians are known to become wonderful citizens of Israel.

5)  Mothers Day Baskets for Women in Shelters. Contact Barbara Gaponoff-Berson (314-576-5021).  Before Mothers day each year we make baskets of personal care items such as soap, shampoo, lotions, tooth brushes, perfume, etc. for women in shelters.  This provides a sense of dignity and joy from this small, but needed gift and provides them with a good feeling on Mothers Day, while being in a bad situation.  Please collect these items through out the year for use in these baskets and bring them on or just before the designated day we put the baskets together.  Join us to make the baskets!  Its always fun to do.

6)  Back to School Supplies Drive.  Contact Anne Frohman (636-256-8489). Once a year we collect school supply items needed for kids who have nothing.  This is in July and August before school starts.  It is tremendously helpful for those kids who would not have these supplies otherwise and really helps their ability to go back to school.  Lord knows we want them to have an opportunity to be educated.  Back packs, pencils, markers, rulers, binders, spiral notebooks, pens, errasors, scissors, pencil sharpeners, compasses etc. are all needed.

7)  High Holy Day food packages.  Contact Jerry Tullman (314-872-7853).  Every Pesach and Rosh Hashanah we provide whole meals for a family of four so people who are not able to at that time can still enjoy the High Holy Days as they are to be celebrated and enjoyed.  Please consider making provisions for the Jewish Food Pantry at these times of year to help those not as fortunate, enabling them to enjoy the gifts God means for them to have.

8)  Environmental Initiative.  Contact Alan Elfanbaum (314-576-4236).  Recycle paper products at the synagogue recycling bin.  Participate in the St. Louis Jewish Environmental Initiative with tree planting and advocacy from a Jewish perspective.  Learn how to be environmentally friendly (we only have one planet to give to our children).  Help with the Heritage Center TuB'Shevat seder for our kids.  God knows Alan and the Earth need help.  Call Alan!

9)  Chesed Synagogue Vegetable Garden.  Contact Ceil Tobin (636-532-4456) or Suzanne Kopp (314-991-1035).  Every summer we plant vegatables at the shul's garden to provide fresh home grown vegetables, right from the garden, for the Jewish Food Pantry.  Those people utilizing the Pantry enjoy and appreciate it tremendously.  There is nothing like garden fresh tomatoes, cucumbers etc. to enjoy the gift of life.  If you have your own home garden, please contribute to the food pantry as well.  Take a corner of your field for this purpose.  The vegetables are given out as you bring them in so perishability is not a concern.  Our gardeners are three dedicated ladies and two men who really need your assistance as well with watering maybe once a week, or tending, picking and the like.  Give us a call!  We need you!

10)  Mazon - the national Jewish response to hunger.  Contact Carl Katzen (636-537-0844).  On Yom Kippur while we ourselves are hungry, think of a way you can help others who regularly eat only one meal a day, if they are lucky.  Contribute $18 or what ever you can to our national organization, Mazon, that provides a Jewish response to hunger nationwide and worldwide.

11)  G'Mach - interest free loans.  Contact Shelby Kopp (314-991-1035).  A fund has been established that can provide an interest free loan to congregants who would need it to help with a personal need.  Please note this is a loan and is expected to be paid back within a year or two at the most so the fund can be replenished.  This way others can take advantage of it, as you did.  We need people to contribute to the fund to keep it solvent, a wonderful tax deduction and aid to fellow congregants who need it.

12)  St. Louis Jewish Social Action Network.  Contact Shelby Kopp (314-991-1035).  This is an organization of St. Louis synagogue chesed/social action groups who meet three times a year to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects to enhance a Jewish response to a particular need.  The people involved are outstanding individuals and well worth meeting and enjoying their fellowship.  Please join this group and do something significant.  It would be nice to have a new Traditional Congregation representative at the table.

13)  Pishkas!  Contact Bernie Tobin (636-532-4456).  Pishkas are the life blood of the Chesed committee for many of the good deeds we are called upon to accomplish.  Without this financial support we could not do many of the things we do for other people.  At the minyan, consider contributing $2 instead of $1, or 50 cents instead of 25 cents.  Fill up and bring in your home pishkas.  We guarantee the funds will be used for a person who needs our help, and there is 0, nada, none, no overhead.  All the funds go directly to people in need.

14)  Chesed funds.  Contact Rabbi Zimand (314-576-5230)/ Shelby Kopp (314-991-1035).  Funds are available for a variety of needs to improve people's lives both here at the synagogue and in the general community, depending on fund availability/congregant donations and pishkas utilization.

15)  Acknowlegements.  Contact Lee Altman (314-576-3539).  Since Lee has taken over, thank you's and documentation of your contribution should be timely and smooth.

16)  New Outreaches.  Contact Shelby Kopp  (314-991-1035).  Any great ideas?!  Something else we should/could be doing as a congregation?  Let us know!

17) Mentor St. Louis is a community wide program to mentor disadvantaged children and give them positive role models to look up to and emulate.  With the closing of many St. Louis City Schools and consolidation to the remaining schools the need for more mentors has become an acute need.  Once a month spending an hour with your student, reading, writing, and small art craft activities often gives a startling different experience for these kids.  They thirst to see their mentors every month.  The schools participating in the program are in the inner city but no one, NO ONE, since the program started 10 years ago has gotten hurt.  Parking is on site at the school lot.  It is in poor neighborhoods so usual precautions suffice.  It is a wonderful mitzvah.  Many employers help out and allow their employees to participate on company time, as a benefit to the community and tax write off.
To get involved call Mentor St. Louis: 314-531-2570 and for first hand experience contact Suzanne Kopp, our synagogue representative, at 314-991-1035.

18) The Jewish Healing Center of St. Louis meets monthly and aids people experiencing troubled times.  God is the center of the healing process in illness and bereavement.  The Jewish spirituality process can be extremely helpful.  Call 314-692-8822 for more information.

19) Volunteers Needed!   Our Office Staff can use volunteers to help collate, staple, stuff, stamp, and seal, as well as design creative posters, computer generated flyers, etc.  Whatever your gifts are, we need you!  For a minimum amount of effort, you can gain maximum fulfillment.

Ethiopian Student Sponsorship

(Continued from home page)

In recent years, Traditional has been adopting two students.  One student is supported by funds generously provided by Louise and Mel Saltzman.The other is supported by funds raised by the Chesed Committee.  One of our students, Chen Dinkiye Mellessa, is a 23 year old social work student at Haifa University.  Below is a letter from Dinkiye, edited for clarity.

Dear Traditional Congregation of St. Louis:

How are you?  I’m OK beside the exams.  You know I have exams and I need success.  It’s called “Semester A.” The year is very difficult, but I need to study much of the time to succeed.

I want to come to visit during vacation, perhaps in August or September, but I can’t say when.  I want to tell you that it is very hepful to me that you give me “milga” (money), so thank you for everything.  I got the letter you sent and thank you for this.  It has helped me and I am very happy I have people that care about me, so thank you.

On April 11, 2004 there was a special day for students.  I met friends and many people I know.  There were some political people that belong to the government who talked about some things that didn’t reflect reality.  They were just talking, not doing anything.  You are helping me more than they are.

I now have a “minus” in the bank, and am waiting eagerly for your gift.  I hope to meet and talk with you some day.  Good bye and see you soon. 

Chen Dinkiye Mellessa

Would you like to help support the Adopt-a-Student Program for another year?  Our goal this year is $1,080. Please send your contribution to Traditional Congregation Chesed Committee and mark it for "Adopt-a-Student."

Nursing Home Visits

This year, we are continuing the program of visiting residents of community nursing homes.  For those of you interested in participating in this program, please call Shelby Kopp at 314-991-1035 or Jennifer Bell at 636-458-5045.

Shelby Kopp (right) meets with members of the Chesed Committee

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