The largest orthodox synagogue in St. Louis will celebrate the 10-year-anniversary of its spiritual leader and his vision that focuses strongly on outreach to the Jewish orthodox community and beyond.
“We have the opportunity to be a beacon of light in our community,” said Rabbi Ze’ev Smason of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion. “My vision is that Judaism is more than prayer and study. But it also is having meaningful fun.”
The fun-filled anniversary celebration of Smason and his wife, Chani, will include a dinner Sunday, Dec. 20 honoring the couple. The anniversary theme is “Appreciating the Past and Looking to the Future.”
Following the dinner, the University City Symphony Orchestra will perform George Handel’s famed “Judas Maccabaeus,”
“Judas Maccabaeus” became one of Handel’s most popular oratorios with frequent reprises, second only to “Messiah.”
“In addition to hearing the Hanukah story, the performance will be spiritually uplifting and inspiring,” Smason said, adding that everyone, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, is welcome to attend.
The performance is one of the many outreach efforts that have included pizza parties, a chili-cook off and the Rabbi Ride-Around Rally and Picnic, which raised money for the synagogue.
“We, as a congregation, are focused on outreach—not in-reach,” Smason said. “We seek to reach out to individual Orthodox Jews and any Jew regardless of background.”
Having himself been raised in a loving home with positive Jewish values, but not traditionally observant, Smason said he relates well to the issues and concerns of secular and unaffiliated Jews who desire to learn more about their heritage, but are unfamiliar with many practices and rituals of traditional Judaism.
Smason has developed a wide range of original classes and programs to assist Jews of all educational and religious backgrounds. "I don't know many Jews who, when asked, state that they would like to become Orthodox," Smason said. "I do know many Jews, however, who have a goal to grow and to become better Jews. Such people will be met with a very warm welcome at Nusach Hari B'nai Zion."
Smason is looking for even greater outreach in the upcoming years.
“Great things have been accomplished,”
Rabbi Smason is anticipating that he and his congregation will have a greater impact on the greater St. Louis community when they break ground and move to the synagogue’s new location in Olivette after the sale of the congregation’
Unlike the current location, the Olivette location is in a residential area making it easier for the congregation to adhere to not driving on the Sabbath. “Rather than a community that is individually focused, we are committed to be a community resource,” Smason said. “We offer something for everyone. We want to look at as something for everyone. It’s for all individual regardless of level of observance and level of education.”
Raised in Los Angeles, Rabbi Smason graduated from University of California- Los Angeles with a degree in political science. He then pursued rabbinical studies for eight years in Jerusalem, receiving ordination and continuing post-graduate studies while lecturing there on Torah, philosophy, ethics, and current issues.
From 1988 to 1997 Smason was associate director of Aish HaTorah Center of Jewish Studies of St. Louis; from January 1998, through June 1999, he served as Associate Rabbi and Family Educator of Nusach Hari B'nai Zion before being chosen by the membership to assume the pulpit of the synagogue.
