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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

Are we repeating biblical mistakes? Lessons from Joseph’s pit of betrayal.

Are we repeating biblical mistakes? Lessons from Joseph’s pit of betrayal.

By Rabbi James Bennett, Congregation Shaare EmethPublished December 18, 2024

What we do and what we say matters; once we do or say something, there is often no turning back. One of life’s most important lessons is to think before we speak or act.  In reflecting on this week’s Torah portion, one cannot help but wonder how...

Eliana Eshel is an educator at United Hebrew Congregation’s Saul Spielberg Early Childhood Center.

This St. Louis teacher is reshaping Jewish early childhood education

BY KATHLEEN LEES, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished December 18, 2024

Children express themselves in a myriad of ways. For Eliana Eshel, this is why it’s essential to incorporate interactive opportunities for children to learn about their faith.  “It’s about teaching the values we try to live by to our children,”...

Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff in the Hallmark movie  ‘Hanukkah on the Rocks.’

Hallmark does Hanukkah right

Ellen Futterman, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 18, 2024

As regular readers know, I am a sucker for entirely predictable made-for-TV holiday movies. Little does it matter to me that five minutes into the plot, it’s clear who’s going to wind up with whom two hours later. My expectations for anything meaningful,...

Linda Concors (left) and Nancy Seidel.

‘We just knew!’ Meet the inseparable duo who became BFFs at 80+!

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished December 18, 2024

Hearing about Linda Concors and Nancy Seidel’s budding best friendship underscores my hope that no matter the age, you’re never too old to make another treasured bestie. The two met after Linda and her husband, Jerry, moved into Brookdale Senior...

A fly finds a home — now its book needs one! Help 89-year-old Jan Baron bring her story to life.

A fly finds a home — now its book needs one! Help 89-year-old Jan Baron bring her story to life.

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished December 17, 2024

When Jan Baron called to say she wanted to talk about a children’s book she had written, I jumped at the chance. I don’t know how long I’ve known Jan, probably 15 years or so, but it was when she was chosen as a Jewish Light Unsung Hero in 2013...

Sept 23, 1978; Rochester, NY, USA; Bob Dylan performs at Rochester Community War Memorial. Mandatory

For Bob Dylan’s biographer, ‘A Complete Unknown’ is a dream come true — even if it’s mostly fiction

By Jim Sullivan, The ForwardPublished December 17, 2024

If you’re a music writer, it doesn’t get much better than this: You’ve written 15 historical books, but this one is about a key, formative period in Bob Dylan’s life and career. Published in 2015, it gets optioned by Dylan’s people, and nine...

Candace Owens speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland.

Advocacy group names Candace Owens ‘Antisemite of the Year’

Jewish News Syndicate StaffPublished December 17, 2024

U.S.-based advocacy group StopAntisemitism has named conservative American political commentator Candace Owens Antisemite of the Year. “From defending Hitler’s actions in Germany and mocking Jewish fears over Kanye West’s antisemitic tweets, to...

Two new Hanukkah ice cream flavors debut around St. Louis

Two new Hanukkah ice cream flavors debut around St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 17, 2024

The Festival of Lights just got a little brighter—and a whole lot creamier. Clementine's Naughty and Nice Creamery is rolling out two new Hanukkah-inspired ice cream flavors at all eight St. Louis-area parlors. If you can’t wait—or live outside...

Staenberg Menorah in downtown St. Louis

Lighting of 29’ Staenberg Menorah to take Place Every Night of Hanukkah

Published December 17, 2024

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI — This Hanukkah, the 29’ Staenberg Menorah at Kiener Plaza Park will be lit every night of the eight day holiday. The Chanukah @ The Arch celebrations, sponsored by Peoples National Bank, will feature Hanukkah light-up giveaways,...

Eden Golan.

From ‘October Rain’ to ‘Hurricane’: Eden Golan’s wild ride to a St. Louis stage

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 16, 2024

In a year when Jews worldwide faced extraordinary challenges, Eden Golan’s story is one we can all appreciate. The Israeli singer rose to international prominence after her powerful performance of "Hurricane" earned her a fifth-place finish at Eurovision...

Pizza, prizes, and party vibes: How LollapaJEWza 2024 is dressing Erev Hanukkah!

Pizza, prizes, and party vibes: How LollapaJEWza 2024 is dressing Erev Hanukkah!

Published December 16, 2024

What happens when you take a dive bar, add some dazzling outfits, a guest DJ and the St. Louis young adult Jewish community? You get LollapaJEWza, of course—the annual holiday event that’s been bringing people together for 15 years. This year, it’s...

Photos: Home Depot Hanukkah Experience

Photos: Home Depot Hanukkah Experience

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 15, 2024

Ruby Gubitz proudly held up her new blue home-made menorah. The 5-year-old painted the base and inserted candles during the Home Depot Hanukkah Experience on Sunday, Dec. 15. Ruby also got to spend some quality time with her grandparents Charlene and...

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