L’Chaim!
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.
Join Us
Thursday, October 30
Ritz-Carlton St. Louis
100 Carondelet Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63105
5:15 pm VIP Party*
Main Event
6:15 pm Cocktails
7:00 pm Dinner and Program
At L’Chaim!, attendees will be asked to make a pledge to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ 2025 Annual Campaign. Your generosity ensures we can make a lasting impact in our community and Israel.
VIP Party
An exclusive opportunity to meet and hear from Adeena Sussman. Cocktails and appetizers will be served. (Space limited to 150 people)
The VIP Party is SOLD OUT for 2025
Main Event
General Admission includes access to the Cocktails Reception starting at 6:15 PM followed by the Dinner and Program starting at 7:00 PM. Kosher dietary laws observed.
Complimentary self-parking and valet parking available.
Be A Table Host
Invite your friends to join your table at L’Chaim. Tables fit 10 and there is no financial obligation to fill your table, though we hope you do!
Ticket Information
$218– VIP Pre-Event ($60 tax deductible); includes a ticket to the Main Event
$118 – L’Chaim! ticket
Sponsorship opportunities (fully tax-deductible):
$250 Friends of L’Chaim! Sponsor – Your name or your company’s will be displayed the welcome screen, and a link included in the thank you for attending email (event ticket not included).
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.
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
