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Stacey Hudson

Stacey Hudson is a life-long St. Louisan who grew up in Olivette and lives in University City with her husband, Repps. Stacey’s family includes her stepdaughter, Nicola, who lives with her husband and two children in Dallas; Eliana, a community organizer in Kansas City, and Daniel, who lives in St. Louis who makes personal protective equipment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Repps retired from his career in journalism and teaches journalism and international studies at area universities.

Stacey spent most of her career in commercial real estate as an interior designer and project manager. She brings her experience as a project manager and synagogue board member to the position of Executive Director.

Nancy Greene

Executive Assistant Nancy Greene

I have worked at Kol Rinah and for Shaare Zedek for 11-1/2 years. I have been married for 44 years and have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. My corporate life experiences before Kol Rinah include over 30 years in the banking, insurance, accounting and law industries. The experience I have gained at Kol Rinah has been the most rewarding because of the staff and the congregants who are the lifeblood of this organization.

Meir Zimand

Director of Operations and Finance Meir Zimand

Meir has spent his entire life in the Synagogue , being the sixth child of Rabbi Ephraim זצ״ל and Esther Zimand. Meir has been with BSKI, now Kol Rinah, since 2002. Meir is married to the former Rachel Oakes and has two grown boys.

Karen Kern

Engagement Coordinator

Karen is a native St. Louisan who helps lead Kol Rinah’s Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service. She has attended Song Leader Bootcamp for the past five years and has a degree in music education. She is blessed with six awesome children; has been homeschooling since 2002; teaches PE at her homeschool co-op, and is co director of the North County Homeschool choir. Karen is passionate about God, learning, music, family, exercise and healthy living, and living life to the fullest.

Cindy Kalachek

KoREH (Religious School) Director

Cindy grew up in Highland Park, IL where she gained a love of Judaism through involvement in youth group functions and summer camp in Wisconsin. She came to St. Louis to attend Washington University as an undergrad and quickly made roots in the local Jewish community. She pursued her Master's degree in Education at Harvard University and returned to St. Louis, when she began her career as an educator. During the span of her 16 years as a high school English teacher, Cindy taught at MICDS, Grand Center Arts Academy and Notre Dame High School. Her guiding principle in education is that "nothing unconnected ever occurs" which drives her to seek learning from anywhere and anyone. Along with her husband Josh and children Jacob and Ella, Cindy enjoys seeking out adventures and festivals in the St. Louis area.

Elizabeth (Liz) Collins

Monica Lynne Neidorff Early Childhood Center Director

Liz is originally from Illinois and now lives in St. Louis with her husband and four children. She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Southeast Missouri State University. Prior to coming to MLNECC in 2015, she spent fourteen years working in Early Childhood education at a Jewish day school and recognizes that this time period is the beginning of a child’s great learning adventure. Seeing the excitement in a child’s eyes when they master a new skill or try something new for the first time is an awesome experience to get to be a part of. Liz enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, participating in events that support Autism, and listening to music.

Or Garti

Shin Shin

Or is the shinshin at Kol Rinah this year. She just graduated high school in Israel and decided to defer her army service by a year in order to volunteer in the jewish community in St. Louis. She works with both the Sunday school and the ECC at Kol Rinah, staying with host families from the community throughout the year. Or is from a beautiful village in northern Israel called Kfar Tavor. She loves to travel in nature, film and paint.

A Shinshin (plural Shinshinim) is an 18-year-old Israeli emissary who has graduated from high school and defers their army service in the IDF for one year to volunteer in Jewish communities abroad with the goal of educating people of all ages about Israel and Israeli culture. They teach about Israel through creative programs and challenging discussions, bringing an authentic Israel experience to the community they serve, while forming long lasting relationships with their host families and members of the community.

Sat, April 27 2024
19 Nisan 5784

MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.