St. Louis tech expert talks identity at Chesterfield event
Miss Israel 2025 Melanie Shiraz will lead a small, ticketed discussion on Jewish pride and public identity in November.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
Melanie Shiraz, a data scientist and technology entrepreneur, will speak at a private event in Chesterfield on Nov. 12. The gathering will focus on her experience representing Israel and her views on Jewish identity, rather than her recent selection as Miss Israel 2025.
Chabad of Chesterfield is hosting the session, titled “Standing Proud: Israel, Identity & Jewish Pride,” at 7 p.m. The event is capped at 70 attendees to maintain an intimate setting for the discussion and subsequent questions from the audience.
Chanala Rubenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Chesterfield, said the organization wanted to explore the personal story behind Shiraz's public role. “What interested us about Melanie is the story behind it,” Rubenfeld said. “She made the choice to stand publicly as an Israeli and as a Jew at a time when that can take real courage.”
Shiraz has worked in advocacy on university campuses and has represented Israel in international settings. Instead of delivering a standard speech, she will participate in a fireside conversation. The dialogue will cover topics including antisemitism, the meaning of Israel to her, and the challenges of being visibly Jewish in the current climate.
Rubenfeld stated that the goal is to shift the focus from external opinions to internal confidence. “We want people to leave feeling confident about who they are,” she said. The session aims to ask attendees what they are proud of and how they pass that connection to the next generation.
Tickets for the event are priced at $90 per person. A limited number of Patron tickets are available for $118. The higher price includes preferred seating and a private meet and greet with Shiraz. The evening will also feature an Israeli-inspired reception.
Those interested in attending can register at Jewishchesterfield.com/pride. Contact information for Chabad of Chesterfield includes the email address provided on their site or the phone number 636-778-4000. The event is scheduled for the Thursday of that week.
