Rabbi Zeffren was an ordained rabbi but did not hold a rabbinic pulpit in St. Louis. However, his teaching, religious, and mentoring contributions to the Orthodox Jewish community warrant his presence on the rabbi list that is part of the St. Louis Rabbis virtual cemetery. The full list can be found at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS.
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GRAVE MARKER INSCRIPTION

Jonathan Zeffren
HaRav Gershon Yitzchak son of R' (Reb- Mr.) Yoel Eliezer Zephrin (sp?)
He was born the 25th of Sivan 5721 June 9, 1961
He passed from this world on the 17th of Tevet 5772 January 12, 2012
(Whole) innocent and (straight) honest, humble and private (literal translation)
Lover of all (creations) people
The Torah was the happiness/joy of his life
And in his conversations always (I think)
He received every man with smile on his face
And the name of heaven falls in love with him (this is from a translator- I wasn't sure how to phrase it)
He was very attached to his teachers (Rabbis) and students
And taught them wisely
He took his sufferings (tzarus- troubles) with love
(Translation thanks to Arielle Sachs)
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OBITUARY
Gershon "Jonathan" Zeffren

Zeffren, Rabbi Gershon Jonathan January 12, 2012. Beloved husband of Donna Zeffren; dear father and father-inlaw of Sara Yospe (Shloimie) Scheinert, Binyamin Laibel, Moshe David, Rina Rachel, Sheri, Sruly, Chaim, Mordechai, Shlomo, Chana Gittel and Adina Zeffren; grandfather of Ezie and Mati Scheinert; dear son of Joel Lester Zeffren, MD and the late Matilda Zeffren; dear brother and brother-in-law of Jacob Yak (Corrine) Zeffren, MD of Teaneck, NJ, Barry Dov (Tziona) Zeffren, MD and David (Mira) Zeffren of Los Angeles, CA; dear brother-in-law of Amy (Dovid) Schwartz; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Services: Funeral services were held Friday, January 13 at Sha'arei Chesed (U. City Shul). Interment at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Torah Prep or Bais Yaakov High School. BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE

Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch on January 15, 2012

St. Louis Jewish Light
January 25, 2012
by ROBERT A. COHN
Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

RABBI GERSHON ("JONATHAN") ZEFFREN, 50; WAS HONORED EDUCATOR AT LOCAL JEWISH DAY SCHOOLS

Rabbi Gershon ("Jonathan") Zeffren, a longtime teacher at Bais Yaakov High School, Torah Prep and the H. F. Epstein Hebrew Academy, died Thursday, January 12, 2012. He was 50 years old and had been battling a brain tumor for several years, family members said.

Rabbi Zeffren had taught at Bais Yaakov School for Girls since its inception in 1995. In recognition for his outstanding record as a teacher and mentor, Rabbi Zeffren was presented with the Central Agency for Jewish Education's Stuart I. Raskas Award as the Outstanding Jewish Day School Teacher at its graduation ceremony on June 16, 2004, Michelle Brooks director of School Services on the CAJE staff presented the award to Rabbi Zeffren on that occasion. In her remarks Brooks said, "As many of his nominators (for the award) have pointed out, though Rabbi Zeffren's offical job title as a Jewish history teacher, he goes above and beyond that role. One nominator wrote, "his warmth, understanding, and deep concerns for his students bespeaks a genuine love for them. He extends himself beyond the classroom to reach his students and attend to their needs. He knows just how to make them smile with his positive sense of humor."

Rabbi Zeffren played a key role in the establishment of Bais Yaakov School, having written the full prospectus, complete with education and Judaic mission statements. "He set into motion the process that culminated in the birth of Bais Yaakov High School of St. Louis," one of his nominators noted. He was also admired for his availability to students who needed counseling, and his sensitivity to special needs students. He also taught for almost 20 years at the Epstein Hebrew Academy and at Torah Prep School, where he most recently served as the Mashgiach Ruchani (spiritual advocate).

"His students all considered him their Rebbe for life, and called him that even years and years after passing through his classroom," his widow, Donna Zeffren told the Jewish Light.

In addition to his work at Bais Yaakov, Rabbi Zeffren volunteered for years in teaching a weekly Parasha class to adults through the St. Louis Kollel.

Rabbi Zeffren was born in St. Louis on June 9, 1961, the son of Dr. Joel Lester Zeffren and late Matilda Zeffren. He was a graduate of Epstein Hebrew Academy in St. Louis and the Brisk Yeshiva High School in Chicago, earned a master's degree in education from Webster University and received his rabbinic ordination from the Yeshivas Mishkan HaTorah.

Survivors, in addition to his wife and father, include five daughters, Sara Zeffren Scheinert (Shloimy), Rina Zeffren, Batsheva Zeffren, Chana Gittel Zeffren,and Adina Zeffren; six sons, Binyomin, Moshe, Yisroel, Mordechai, Chaim, and Shlomo Zeffren and two grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 13, 2012 at Sha'arei Chesed/Beth Hamedrosh Hogodol (University City Shul). Burial was at the Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery on Ladue Road. Contributions preferred to Torah Prep or Bais Yaakov High School.
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The rabbi featured on this Find A Grave page is one of many included in a "Virtual Cemetery" of rabbis who've passed but who served on St. Louis pulpits during their rabbinate. The complete "Virtual Cemetery" list can be found at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS. Questions about this "Virtual Cemetery" project may be directed to:
Steven Weinreich
Email: [email protected]
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