L’Chaim!
Thank you to all that join us for an evening of celebration, community and giving featuring Adeena Sussman, best-selling cookbook author, writer, and chef whose work explores the intersection of Jewish, Israeli, and culinary cultures.
L’Chaim! Giving Challenge
We are deeply grateful to the generous donors who made the L’Chaim match possible – Stacy Abeles, Gina Bernstein, Felicia Malter, Galia Movitz, Janie Roodman Weiss and Debbie Zimmerman . Their commitment—combined with the passion and philanthropy of everyone in the room—multiplied the impact we made together that evening.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to make your 2025 gift, all new or increased gifts from L’Chaim! guests are eligible for our generous match.
2025 L’Chaim Speaker
Adeena Sussman
Our keynote speaker, Adeena Sussman is a best-selling cookbook author, writer, and chef whose work explores the intersection of Jewish, Israeli, and culinary cultures. Her most recent book Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours, was released in September 2023 and was an instant New York Times best-seller. She is currently working on her next cookbook, to be released in Spring 2026.
Her popular Instagram account takes followers along as she cooks, explores, and reports on food culture in Israel, where she moved in 2015. Since October 7, she has been working to highlight individuals affected by the day’s events and to campaign for the release of hostages in captivity,
Her previous cookbooks include Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors From My Israeli Kitchen, as well the New York Times bestselling Cravings cookbook series, which she co-authored with Chrissy Teigen. Adeena has written about Israeli food for Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, The Wall Street Journal, Epicurious, Gourmet, and many others.
She lives footsteps from Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, where she shops and explores daily, taking inspiration from her adopted country’s seasonal and cultural culinary rhythms.
A Special Inspired Meal
The meal served at L’Chaim! was inspired by recipes by Adeena Sussman
Pre-Event
Grape, Walnut and Labaneh Toasts with Spicy Thyme Honey, Shabbat, Page 78
Sweet and Tart Eggplant Salad, Shabbat, Page 118
Cold and Crunchy Rice Salad, Shabbat, Page 170
Roasted Vegetable and Barley Salad, Shabbat, Page 175
Main Event
Dips Trio:
Magical Hummus, Sababa, Page 116
Muhammara Dip, Sababa, Page 136
Spinach, Artichoke, Pea Dip, Shabbat, Page 92
Main:
Glazed Crispy Tofu, Shabbat, Page 126
Harissa-Honey Pargiyot, Sababa, Page 224
Cinnamony Smoky Eggplant P’titim, Sababa, Page196
Tahini-Glazed Carrots (served on green beans instead), Sababa, Page 158
Dessert:
Tahini Blondies, Sababa, Page 318
Clementine’s Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream
Thank you to Our 2025 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Event Leadership
2025 L’Chaim! Event Co-Chairs
Stacy Abeles
Gina Bernstein
Debbie Zimmerman
VIP Pre-Event Co-Chairs
Kathy Karasick
Dafna Revah
Women’s Philanthropy
Amy Lampert, Chair
Cindy Frank, Vice Chair, Development
Event Committee Members
Lauren Abraham, Jenna Abrams, Ellen Alper, Fran Balk, Lisa Graivier Barnes, Amy Bender-Levy, Lizzie Berman, Carol Blinder, Patty Bloom, Marcia Brockman, Marcy Cornfeld, Dorit Daphna-Iken, Robyn DeNorscia, Abby Durlester, Madeleine Elkins, Laura Ellen, Amy Gallant, Amy Garland, Laurie Garland, Julie Gibbs, Sheri Glantz, Lori Goldberg, Caroline Goldenberg, Abby Goldstein, Laura Gotkin, Stephanie Gross, Abigail Hoffman, Rachel Holtzman, Avital Kadosh, Rachel Weiss Kalina, Jen Klearman, Carly Kleiman, Linda Kusmer, Debbie Lefton, Chelsea Leon, Sylvia Manewith, Betsy Mehlman, Becca Near, Jennifer Rosenthal, MaryAnne Smyly Sabin, Caryn Sandweiss, Elissa Schachter, Erin Schneider, Lindsay Schneider, Sherry Shuman, Shana Singer, Bonnie Solomon, Ashley Specter, Lisa Warticovschi, Laura Whalen, Melanie Winograd, Julie Yawitz, Leslie Yoffie
Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Galia Movitz and Janie Roodman Weiss, Campaign Chairs
Toby Warticovschi, Vice Chair, Development
Todd Siwak, Board Chair
Danny Cohn, President & CEO
Staff
Larry Gast, Vice President, Development
Stacy Wagerman, Senior Director, Women’s Philanthropy & Affinity Groups
Sabrina Gornish, Associate Director, Women’s Philanthropy
Sandra Templehoff, Resource Assistant
