April 13, 2022
A vision for the future
Around Town St. Charles County emergency communications employees receive recognition. Pg. 2 Bring springtime to the Cultural Arts Centre with the Botanical Gardens art show. Pg. 5 A SENIOR MOMENT. Pg.4 HEALTHY LVING. Pg. 5
School Holt High School CyberUp team wins national competition . Pg. 6 Photo courtesy Baalman Architects Pictured is an early concept rendering for Chabad’s Jewish Community Center in St. Charles County. The property is located on East Wabash Street and T.R. Hughes Boulevard in O’Fallon,
The Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County was gifted a 9.6-acre property in O’Fallon to build a more prominent presence in the community By Brett Auten In two short years, Rabbi Chaim Landa and his wife Bassy have brought Jewish culture to St. Charles County in an unprecedented way. So much so, County Executive Steve Ehlmann said that we are witnessing a Jewish revival here. Thanks to a generous donation from an established, local family, that message will not only continue, but elevate. The Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County was gifted a 9.6-acre property by the family of the late Leonard Kaplan. The property is located on East Wabash Street and T.R. Hughes Boulevard in O’Fallon. The Chabad Jewish Center is currently leasing office space on Historic Main Street in Downtown St. Charles, and hosts at-home gatherings as well as larger events in rent-
ed venues, including last year’s St. Charles Jewish Festival which attracted more than 1,000 people at the Foundry Art Centre. “This extraordinary gift allows us to plan properly into the future and really do amazing things,” Rabbi Landa said. “When you have a brick-and-mortar location, people drive by, they notice. They know you are here to stay.” According to the most recent demographic study sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 5,800 Jews live in St. Charles County, making up nearly 10% of all Jews in the Greater St. Louis region (that’s nearly as many Jews as live in Olivette and Ladue combined). According to the 2021 Pew Study of American Jews, 38% of all U.S. Jews have engaged in some way with Chabad programs. “This is further evidence that St. Charles County is becoming a more diverse com-
munity and I welcome that development,” Ehlmann said With deep family and business roots in St. Charles, Leonard Kaplan was widely admired for his work in the lumber and land development businesses. According to STLJewishLight.org, the land donation announcement comes just weeks after Kaplan’s third yahrtzeit (or anniversary of his death). Kaplan was known as “Labe” by family and friends. His widow Norma Kaplan said her late husband believed in helping the community, especially for initiatives that involved children and families. Leonard’s grandfather founded Kaplan Lumber Company in 1926. He hosted St. Charles’ first synagogue, meeting in a spare room in his home for Shabbat and Jewish holidays. “The Kaplan family began Jewish life in See ‘VISION‘ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 24 No. 15 | 636-379-1775
ESports coming to Duchesne High School. Pg. 7
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Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Yeggs & Crossword. Pg. F-4
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