Missouri
Where the East and the West become one.
St. Louis · Jefferson City · Kansas City
The Journey
Missouri was super fun. Two major American cities, on opposite ends of the state, with completely different vibes.
On the east, in St. Louis, we visited the Gateway Arch and were surprised to learn that it is actually a national park. We got tickets, rode all the way to the top, and peeked through the little windows overlooking the St. Louis skyline and Mississippi River.
We made sure to get some iconic frozen custard from Ted Drewes, visited the historic Anheuser Busch Brewery, home of Budweiser, and enjoyed an ice cold beer right there. We also made a stop at Park Avenue Coffee. St. Louis felt like a popping Midwestern city filled with vibrant American culture and a character completely its own.
On the western side of the state, Kansas City gave us something entirely different. For breakfast, we made sure to stop at Meshuggah Bagels, and Meshuggah it was. We visited Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that has brought plenty of championship pride to Missouri. We also stopped at the famous Kansas City Public Library Community Bookshelf, where the outside of the parking garage looks like a giant row of books. The girls loved it and of course took some photos!
In the heart of the state, we found Jefferson City, where we visited the State Capitol, continuing our journey through every capital in America. Sitting above the Missouri River, the building and surrounding city felt completely different from the energy of both St. Louis and Kansas City.
Missouri felt like a place where East and West, city and countryside, history and modern America all seemed to cross paths.
Jewish Missouri
In Jefferson City, we visited Temple Beth El, a small white brick synagogue that quietly tells a much deeper Jewish story.
Finding it in the state capital was another reminder that Jewish life in Missouri has never been limited to the major cities. Small Jewish communities planted roots in towns across the state and built congregations that survived for generations.
In St. Louis and Kansas City, the experience was very different. We visited local shuls, stopped at kosher groceries, ate Jewish food, and experienced communities that felt established and very much alive.
St. Louis has the deepest roots. United Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1837 and is the oldest active Jewish congregation in Missouri. Kansas City later developed its own major Jewish community on the western side of the state.
That made Jewish Missouri feel much like Missouri itself. Two large communities on opposite ends, with smaller Jewish stories quietly living in between.
What Stayed With Me
What stayed with me about Missouri was the people.
Wherever we went, there were smiles and a real pride in the state they came from. In many places, when I tell people I am from New York, someone immediately tells me how much they would love to live there.
Missouri felt different. People seemed content. Proud of their cities, their teams, their food, their neighborhoods, and their way of life. And after spending some time there, I understood it.
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