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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

A funny thing happened on the way to watching the new Jerry Springer documentary

A funny thing happened on the way to watching the new Jerry Springer documentary

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 6, 2025

Here’s a story I never thought I’d tell publicly, but with legendary Jewish talk show host Jerry Springer back in the headlines, it feels right to spill some behind-the-scenes tea. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Netflix drops "Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera,...

What’s the best thing to say to a mourner? A rabbi responds

What’s the best thing to say to a mourner? A rabbi responds

By Rabbi Daniel Cohen, The ForwardPublished January 6, 2025

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. What’s the best thing to say to someone when visiting them during shiva, the week of Jewish mourning following a death...

What do the Super Bowl, a kosher Shabbat feast, and a global sportswear brand have in common?

What do the Super Bowl, a kosher Shabbat feast, and a global sportswear brand have in common?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 6, 2025

For more than two decades, Sol Werdiger, CEO of OuterStuff—a leading youth sports apparel brand—has combined his passion for faith, family, and football to turn Super Bowl weekend into an unforgettable Shabbat experience. Now,...

Photos! Israeli siblings in STL see snow for very first time

Photos! Israeli siblings in STL see snow for very first time

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished January 5, 2025

The word for snow in Hebrew is שֶׁלֶג (pronounced shaeleg), but it doesn’t come in very handy in Israel, where the white stuff is rare. That’s why the first St. Louis snowfall of 2025 on Sunday, Jan. 5, was a highlight for Ziv Shalev, who...

Reader responds to Moshe Phillips Op-Ed

Reader responds to Moshe Phillips Op-Ed

Published January 5, 2025

The Jewish Light does a grave disservice to its readers by publishing editorials like that of Moshe Phillips on January 3. The editorial claims that “The war in Gaza resembles a police operation . . . security forces are going house to house, hunting...

Glass from the old East Wall.

Legal fight over Catholic stained glass reminds us to remember Jewish art treasures

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 5, 2025

If stained glass could talk, what stories might it tell? That thought crossed my mind Sunday morning (Jan. 5) as I read a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article about a legal battle involving historic Emil Frei stained-glass windows inside a crumbling Catholic...

From the Holocaust to hilarity: New book reveals how laughter keeps Jewish spirits alive

From the Holocaust to hilarity: New book reveals how laughter keeps Jewish spirits alive

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 3, 2025

Jewish humor isn’t just about getting a laugh—it’s an essential part of Jewish identity. According to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, 34% of American Jews say having a sense of humor is a crucial aspect of their Jewish identity. That’s more...

Brad Meltzer brings JFK bombshell to St. Louis—your exclusive look inside his new book

Brad Meltzer brings JFK bombshell to St. Louis—your exclusive look inside his new book

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 2, 2025

Few historical figures captivate the public imagination like President John F. Kennedy, and few authors bridge the gap between forgotten history and contemporary relevance as seamlessly as Brad Meltzer. A Jewish author known for his thrillers and meticulously...

A United Hatzalah team transport a patient to a helicopter for emergency evacuation to hospital.

What is United Hatzalah and why St. Louisans should care?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 2, 2025

As a journalist, my inbox is constantly flooded with press releases and pitches from all kinds of organizations—some pushing honest, impactful narratives and some less so. For the past six months, I’ve found myself receiving regular updates...

Eden Golan.

International music sensation Eden Golan shares her journey with the Jewish Light ahead of St. Louis performance

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 2, 2025

Eden Golan isn’t just a singer; she’s a symbol of resilience and strength. Representing Israel in Eurovision 2024 during a year of profound challenges, Golan captivated audiences worldwide with her powerful performance of “Hurricane,” finishing...

Judy and Dr. Robert Hellman outside Young Israel.

The Jewish Community Blood Drive is back thanks to Bob and Judy Hellman

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEFPublished January 2, 2025

If it’s January, it must be time for the annual St. Louis Jewish Community Blood Drive at Young Israel in University City. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Bob and Judy Hellman, named Jewish Light Unsung Heroes in 2014, the blood drive has been held annually...

Jan 1, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view of police vehicles at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street. The Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed after an attack on Bourbon Street.

Two Israelis injured in fatal ramming attack in New Orleans

JNS StaffPublished January 1, 2025

At least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded when the driver of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd while opening fire at police during New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans early Wednesday morning. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell told reporters...

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