12166 Conway Road
St Louis, Missouri 63141
314.432.5877
SENIOR RABBI
Rabbi Elizabeth B. Hersh
Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh was raised in Buffalo, New York and graduated from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1992. She served United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis for ten years before continuing her religious education and service in Sydney, Australia, at Congregation Emanuel, and as a visiting rabbi at Temple David in Perth.
In 2007, she returned to the states as a chaplain and educator in St. Louis and Decatur, Illinois. After a brief return to Australia, she returned to St. Louis as Temple Emanuel’s lead Rabbi in 2013.
With a passion for education and lifelong learning, Rabbi Hersh is an active player in Temple Emanuel’s religious school program, and leads adult enrichment opportunities including bible study, introduction to Judaism, and many community-focused programs.
“I understand the importance of strong and meaningful relationships,” says Rabbi Hersh, “and am blessed that my rabbinate has spanned two continents, where I’ve had the opportunity to serve my community through congregational work, teaching and chaplaincy.”
Rabbi Hersh has focused much of her career on serving the needs of interfaith families, and has made a priority out of building a temple community that embraces all faiths, backgrounds and orientations. “Our arms are open wide to all who walk through our doors, wherever they are in their religious journeys. We are a temple and a congregation, but we are first and foremost a home.”
Rabbi Hersh also feels privileged for the opportunity to develop and facilitate women’s programming – including women’s retreats and women’s Seders. More recently, she has focused her service on elderly members of the community, by visiting residents in skilled and assisted living facilities, and as the Chaplain for Jewish Family & Children’s Service.
“I am indebted to this generation of older heroes who have shown me the importance of being a rabbi.”
Rabbi Hersh serves on the boards of Provident Inc, Magdalene St. Louis, the Advisory Committee for Maryville University and the Millstone Institute. She and her husband are the proud parents of a son.
You can check out her blog in the St. Louis Jewish Light.
OUR BOARD OFFICERS:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Member-At-Large
Immediate Past President
TRUSTEES:
JoAnne Bronstein
Suzanne Burack
Amye Carrigan
Evan Klein
Robbin List
Melissa Merlin
Christine Schulze
Susan Warshaw
Susie Weitzer
RABBI EMERITUS AND SENIOR SCHOLAR
Rabbi Joseph R. Rosenbloom, Of Blessed Memory
December 5, 1928 - August 3, 2020
Rabbi Joseph R. Rosenbloom, Rabbi Joe, as he was known to generations at Temple Emanuel and St. Louis at large, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Monday, August 3, 2020. Rabbi Rosenbloom served the Temple continuously since 1961, a period of time that covers practically the entire history of Temple Emanuel. Additionally, Rabbi Rosenbloom served as an adjunct professor in classics at Washington University in Saint Louis.
Rabbi Joe was the beloved husband of the late Cordelia Rosenbloom and Gloria A. "Abbi" Rosenbloom. He was the dear father of Deborah A. Rosenbloom, Dena J. (Douglas Fishman) Rosenbloom and the late Eve Rosenbloom, and the loving grandfather of Aaron, Lia and Alicia. He was the beloved brother of Nina (Lenny) Kalen and Esther (Jerome) Brown, and cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews. Rabbi Joe was a respected colleague, trusted friend and confidant, and valued mentor to countless others.
CANTORIAL SOLOIST
Rev. Malachi Owens, Jr., Of Blessed Memory
March 15, 1950 - June 21, 2021
True to our Classical Reform roots, we have never employed an ordained Cantor, although we have had the pleasure of listening to our superb cantorial soloist Malachi Owens, Jr. for more than 40 years.
Reverend Malachi Owens, Jr. passed away on June 21, 2021 after a brief illness. Malachi had been Temple Emanuel's Cantorial Soloist since 1977. He was born, reared, educated and lived in the City of St. Louis. He held a Bachelors of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in Saint Louis and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary.
Over the past 50 years Malachi performed with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra as a chorus member and soloist and he performed with the orchestra six times at Carnegie Hall in New York.
He directed The Legend Singers Choral Ensemble, a 75-years old choral organization, for more than 10 years and was a student of the double bass and violin. Malachi directed The Men of Galilee, a choir at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, where he was an ordained associate minister and trustee.
In addition to his solo appearances for services, bar and bat-mitzvahs, weddings and funerals, Malachi had been a pulpit guest and led services and musical concerts for the congregation.
Outside of his music interests, Malachi was a retired Consulting Project Engineer for Ameren Corporation where he worked for more than 28 years. He was an Ameren consultant through Advantage Engineering of Chesterfield Missouri. He was an ordained Baptist minister, a member of the National Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi), a railroad and stained glass hobbyist.
Malachi is survived by his two daughters, Chanita Lynette and Mia Kayla Owens and a granddaughter, Iris Alvena Williams.