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A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

Israeli soldiers seen at a staging area near the Israeli border with Lebanon, Oct. 1, 2024.

Report: Israeli Security Cabinet approves truce with Lebanon

Akiva Van Koningsveld, JNSPublished November 26, 2024

The Israeli Security Cabinet voted on Tuesday to approve a 60-day truce with the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon, CNN reported. All Israel Defense Forces soldiers are expected to withdraw from Southern Lebanon over a 60-day “transition period,”...

Two members of the new IDF battalion along with Orit Efron Raana who takes care of the distribution in Israel.

Faith and action: How a Baptist ministry and St. Louis nonprofit are helping Israeli troops

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished November 26, 2024

For nearly two decades, the Gentile Ministry—a Pacific, Mo.-based coalition of Baptist pastors and their congregations—has openly supported newly formed security and IDF-associated units in Israel. Through a network of relationships they've built...

Max Oppenheimer and Max Gornish reveal the signage of the new Staenberg Lobby at Epstein Hebrew Academy on Monday, Nov. 25 at a dedication ceremony.

Beautiful Legacy: Staenberg Lobby unveiled at Epstein Hebrew Academy

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished November 25, 2024

Roughly 25 people attended the unveiling and dedication of the Michael Staenberg Lobby at Epstein Hebrew Academy on Monday, Nov. 25. While Staenberg has been a long-time supporter of the Jewish day school in Olivette over the past four years, “he has...

"First Date" performed by New Jewish Theatre.

Rebekah Scallet’s winning streak continues with NJT’s brilliant ‘First Date’

BY GERRY KOWARSKY, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished November 25, 2024

Rebekah Scallet knows how to pick ’em. As artistic director of the New Jewish Theatre, Scallet decides which shows the company will produce. Her five selections for the 2024 season included only two well-known titles, but Scallet knew what she was...

Longtime B’nai B’rith lodge in St. Louis closes

Longtime B’nai B’rith lodge in St. Louis closes

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished November 25, 2024

After 179 years, B’nai B’rith Lodge #22 has closed. The St. Louis Jewish institution’s demise was tied to dwindling membership and contributions. At its largest point, the lodge had a total membership of 1,200. The final roster showed 110 members. Lodge...

Molly Picon (right) as Yente the Matchmaker in the 1971 film Fiddler on the Roof (via Digital Yiddish Theatre Project).

‘I’m not Yente’ – St. Louis dating coach focuses on clients who are marriage-bound

JEFFRY GREENBERG, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished November 24, 2024

Mimi David makes it clear that her role as a dating coach is not akin to Yente, the matchmaker in “Fiddler on the Roof.” “A lot of people don’t know the difference,” said David, who is director of women’s education at Aish HaTorah and married...

Sharon and Marshall Podolsky celebrate 60th anniversary

Sharon and Marshall Podolsky celebrate 60th anniversary

Published November 24, 2024

Sharon and Marshall Podolsky celebrated their 60th anniversary on August 2.  They feel very blessed.

Ellen Schapiro

Ellen Schapiro: Adventurous volunteer tackles women’s rights, childhood education

Bill Motchan, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished November 24, 2024

In 1976 at age 22, Ellen Schapiro set off on a cross-country trip on her Motobecane bicycle from Astoria, Ore., to Pensacola, Fla. Schapiro took the trip with her sister in search of adventure. Nearly 50 years later, Schapiro is still biking and seeking...

Celebrating the legacy of innovative puppeteers

BY NANCY KRANZBERG, Special To The Jewish LightPublished November 22, 2024

We were in Nantucket, Mass. this summer and were told not to miss the Whaling Museum — which we didn’t. We learned a lot and were thrilled to enter an exhibition featuring the work of Tony Sarg.  A pioneering puppeteer and illustrator, Sarg was...

Election 2024: How should we respond?

Election 2024: How should we respond?

By Rabbi Ze’ev SmasonPublished November 22, 2024

The 2024 U.S. presidential election elicited a spectrum of reactions across the nation. Many rejoiced, expressing optimism, gratitude and happiness. For others, the outcome was met with disappointment, concern and fear about the direction of the country. ...

Design by Avital Dayanim; Assets via Getty and YouTube

11 thrillifying Jewish facts about ‘Wicked’

By Avital DayanimPublished November 21, 2024

What’s so Jewish about “Wicked”? Composer Stephen Schwartz once reflected in an interview, “I think a lot of musical theater themes speak to Jewish audiences because in many instances musicals are about outsiders, striving to discover how they...

Wendy Flusser.

Butterfly in bloom: Wendy Flusser’s journey from corporate hustle to community hero

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished November 21, 2024

If there’s a cause that Wendy Flusser believes in, she’ll pitch in to do whatever volunteer work is needed. A good example is women’s reproductive rights.  Flusser, chairperson of Jews for Abortion Access, worked diligently on the petition drive...

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