Our President - Kol Rinah

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Barbara Shamir

President

Now retired, Barbara was Director of Global Consumer Research, Energizer; formerly Co-Executive Director, Kol Rinah and has held board positions as Chairperson, President and Vice-President of Ritual and Membership. She is currently Co-Chair of Halls and Catering and serves on the ReOpen Task Force. Barbara is the proud spouse/parent/grandparent of Amos Shamir, Marc and Lvav Spector, Claire and Ben Spector, Mrav and Avi Kagan, and Dor and Sivan Kagan.

Gary Kodner

Chair of the Board

I started my life in 1955. My family was a member of Shaare Zedek. I am the 3rd of 4 brothers. My parents, Marvin and Sue relocated us to BSKI in 1960, after a merger and relocation to Richmond Heights. My family was affiliated with BSKI up until the time of the merger. My mom worked at BSKI for 17 years as a secretary. I left in 2004 to re join Shaare Zedek. I have had the privilege of serving on the boards and as president of BSKI, Shaare Zedek and now Kol Rinah.

In between somewhere I served as president of the St. Louis Jewish Light and served on the board of the Central Agency for Jewish Education as the chair of the afternoon Hebrew School. I have chaired and participated on numerous committees and task forces, but my favorite appointment has been the chair of our Communications Committee, a committee I have served on since 2004. In addition to our amazing communications committee, I serve on the membership committee, facilities committee, fiancé committee, past presidents committee, archives committee, and yes have even helped Randi clean out the basement.

In my professional life I have been a graphic designer, an illustrator, a painter and an author. In my spare time i study Jewsih genealogy, researching and recording extensive family histories. I have also researched the histories of Shaare Zedek, Brith Sholom, BSKI, and yes, 8 years of Kol Rinah history.

I have partnered with my son Oliver on the history of the St. Louis Cardinals Logos and uniforms. We are also partners in Brewstock, a home brewers supply store in New Orleans. My daughter Rachel is a TV editor at Turner Sports, part of the Warner Media Corp. And of course my wife, Peggy Nehmen, who has been a life partner for 38 years in both marriage and business. She started our company Nehmen-Kodner, and she will finish it as well as I have retired from graphic design business. Peggy has supported me, put up with me being so involved with our Jewish community.

Tue, October 28 2025
6 Cheshvan 5786

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