OUR MISSION
Traditional Congregation offers the community the experience of Judaism’s rich heritage of Torah learning and mitzvot in a welcoming synagogue environment, which respects our diversity of knowledge and practices.
Our Rabbi
Rabbi Seth D. Gordon
Shalom! My family and I arrived here in the summer of 2007 from New York and found that Traditional Congregation exceeded our expectations. Traditional Congregation is unlike any other in the St Louis area (and elsewhere) and I sincerely invite you to visit us so that you can see for yourself; and of course, I hope you will speak with me personally.
I have been a pulpit rabbi for 32 years – five years in Annapolis, Maryland;15 in Bethpage, Long Island (New York) and now 12 years in St Louis. My wife, Marian, and I were both raised in New Jersey and are graduates of Rutgers University. I earned my first rabbinical degree in 1987 and my studies included several years in New York and Jerusalem.
Our Staff
Marian Gordon
Executive Director
When Marian moved to St Louis in 2007, she was asked to "help out in the office at Traditional for a couple of months." A couple of months and 12 years later, she is the Executive Director and chief cheerleader for the congregation, and puts to good use the skills from her previous careers in magazine publishing, staff development training, and real estate sales. Marian served on the Board of JPro St Louis, an organization dedicated to supporting all those who work in the St Louis Jewish community. She and her husband, Rabbi Seth Gordon, have five wonderful children, four terrific daughters-in-law and one terrific son-in-law, and the six most adorable grandchildren in the world.
Angela Tannenbaum
Administrative Assistant
Angela has felt a connection to Traditional Congregation ever since 1999, when she and her husband Zvi were married at the synagogue. She moved to St. Louis with her family in 2006 and joined the staff of Traditional in 2016. She has 6 children and 10 grandchildren. Angela has served on the executive committee of Tomchei Shabbos for 11 years. She can be contacted at angelatradcong@yahoo.com.
Our Board of Directors
Elaine Farkas, President
Paul Tesser, Executive VP
Ellis Frohman, Financial VP
Marty Levy, Ritual VP
Florence Schachter, Education VP
Steven Puro, Administration Vice President
Chris Brown,Fundraising VP
Steve Roufa, Building & Grounds VP
Dina Rinder, Youth Vice President
Lori Tesser, Treasurer
Mimi Levy, Secretary
Members at Large:
Steve Bell
Stanley Estrin
Shelah Feldman
Bill Gold
Gary Golden
Ari Levy
Carol Max
Justin Zeid