By Jordan Palmer in St. Louis Jewish Light
Missouri’s Jewish community was recognized at the Capitol after Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a proclamation naming October as Jewish Heritage Month. The proclamation was officially signed Sept. 15, 2025, but the ceremony celebrating it took place in early November because of scheduling conflicts.
At the Capitol rotunda event, Rep. John Martin, R-Columbia, presented the framed document to Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, chair of the Missouri chapter of the Coalition for Jewish Values, who accepted it on behalf of the state’s Jewish community.
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“It was an honor to receive the original proclamation on behalf of Missouri’s Jewish community,” Smason said. “The framed, glass-enclosed copy now hangs in my office.”
Smason explained that while national Jewish American Heritage Month is celebrated in May, Missouri governors including Kehoe and former Gov. Mike Parson have chosen to observe it in the fall out of respect for the Jewish holidays that often occur in September and October. The proclamation remains in effect and will continue to apply in 2026.
Dozens of Jewish community leaders and about 20 legislators attended the ceremony, including Rep. George Hruza and Michael Lourie of the St. Louis Jewish Federation.