Jay Balk, of St. Charles, takes a photo of inscriptions on a stone marker at the new Beth Israel Gardens St. Charles Jewish Cemetery in St. Charles on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Balk grew up in St. Charles, where his family owned a farm and is part of the Jewish community.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY — The opening of Beth Israel Gardens Cemetery in St. Charles marks a major milestone for the county’s Jewish community, officials said Wednesday.
Rabbi Chaim Landa, who runs the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County, his wife, Bassy, far left, and their daughter Chaya, 7, left, greet guests for a Rosh Hashanah community dinner on the first night of the new year holiday on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at a residence in St. Charles County. To the right is guest Shirin Homayoun Sefat.
Alyssa Avery, with Will Soll & the Youngers of Zion klezmer band, plays violin with Gabriel Siegel on clarinet on Aug. 15, 2021, at the inaugural St. Charles Jewish Festival in downtown St. Charles. Patrons, mostly made up of St. Charles' Jewish residents, listened to traditional music, had kosher deli food, and played games. It was sponsored by Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County.
Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad of Greater 51ºÚÁÏ, touches a stone marker at the unveiling of the Beth Israel Gardens St. Charles Jewish Cemetery in St. Charles, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.
The 51ºÚÁÏ area embraced spooky season this week, but also lent help to their neighbors. View life in 51ºÚÁÏ through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.
Officials tout the region as a crucial stop for dozens of migratory bird species and other wildlife.
Jay Balk, of St. Charles, takes a photo of inscriptions on a stone marker at the new Beth Israel Gardens St. Charles Jewish Cemetery in St. Charles on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Balk grew up in St. Charles, where his family owned a farm and is part of the Jewish community.
Rabbi Chaim Landa, who runs the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County, his wife, Bassy, far left, and their daughter Chaya, 7, left, greet guests for a Rosh Hashanah community dinner on the first night of the new year holiday on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at a residence in St. Charles County. To the right is guest Shirin Homayoun Sefat.
Alyssa Avery, with Will Soll & the Youngers of Zion klezmer band, plays violin with Gabriel Siegel on clarinet on Aug. 15, 2021, at the inaugural St. Charles Jewish Festival in downtown St. Charles. Patrons, mostly made up of St. Charles' Jewish residents, listened to traditional music, had kosher deli food, and played games. It was sponsored by Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County.
Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad of Greater 51ºÚÁÏ, touches a stone marker at the unveiling of the Beth Israel Gardens St. Charles Jewish Cemetery in St. Charles, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.
