Skip to Main Content
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

Jewish Humor

Every American Hanukkah special, movie and TV episode worth knowing about

Every American Hanukkah special, movie and TV episode worth knowing about

By PJ GrisarPublished December 13, 2022

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Hanukkah’s profile has grown over the years due to its proximity to Christmas. It’s also true that because of this nearness, it is the Jewish holiday most Christians are familiar with. And yet, while...

Almost immortal Asner, Menzel, Celeb “Wheel,” Whale and Bellow

By Nate Bloom, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 13, 2022

The animated film “Diary of a Whimpy Kid: Roderick Rules” began streaming on Dec. 2.  ED ASNER, who died in 2021 at age 91, has a starring (voice) role. Asner, a Kansas City native, loved to work and at the time of his death he had completed 10 TV...

10 reasons why Hanukkah is the most fun holiday

By Naama BarakPublished December 13, 2022

Hanukkah is probably the most fun holiday the Jewish calendar has to offer. And for good reason, too. Not only is it a beautiful festival of light, but it involves plenty of fried goodness, chocolates, gifts, family and friends. Still not convinced? Scroll...

Molly Yeh and Amy Fenster Brown

Doing good and having fun doing it

Published December 11, 2022

Editor’s note: Amy Fenster Brown was part of the Light’s 2015 Class of Unsung Heroes because of her outstanding volunteer contributions. Here, she writes about what she knows, though she isn’t one to tout her many achievements. It’s our favorite...

Meet Tehran Von Ghasri, a Persian Jewish African-American comic

Meet Tehran Von Ghasri, a Persian Jewish African-American comic

Published December 10, 2022

For an American Jewish comedian, Tehran Von Ghasri has an interesting story to tell, as his name suggests. The son of an Iranian-Jewish immigrant father and an African-American mother, Tehran’s heritage includes a mix of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and...

Yep, Manischewitz introducing 'Crypto Gelt'

Yep, Manischewitz introducing ‘Crypto Gelt’

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 8, 2022

Just months after releasing its "gefilte dogs" for July 4th, our good friends at Manischewitz are at it again this holiday season, launching a brand-new product that will forever change Hanukkah for the better. Introducing Manischewitz Crypto Gelt: the...

The new Hanukkah and Shabbat pajamas are here

The new Hanukkah and Shabbat pajamas are here

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 8, 2022

If you ask me, life is always better when wearing pajamas. Last year, I rediscovered the true joy of comfy pajamas after receiving them as a gift for Hanukkah. Soon, I learned that Hanukkah wasn't the only holiday to be celebrated in sleepwear....

How Marty Feldman became the great forgotten Jewish comic

How Marty Feldman became the great forgotten Jewish comic

By Dan Epstein, The ForwardPublished December 7, 2022

This past Dec. 2 marked the 40th anniversary of Marty Feldman’s death. Of the dozen or so people I’ve recently informed of this factoid, most had the same reaction — a slightly confused expression, followed by some variation of “Really? He’s...

Hallmark’s latest Hanukkah movie is weirdly good

Hallmark’s latest Hanukkah movie is weirdly good

BIrene Katz Connell, The ForwardPublished December 7, 2022

Like any truly great art movement, Hallmark’s foray into Hanukkah holiday movies has proceeded by fits and starts. When the Christmas content giant released its first Jewish movie in 2019, they couldn’t even squeeze the word “Hanukkah” into the...

Sweet Potato and Zucchini Latkes

Schmaltzy history: A nostalgic look at fats for frying latkes

Linda Morel, JTAPublished December 7, 2022

NEW YORK (JTA) —  Fat may be a dirty word now, but we can chart the history of American Jews through the fats they’ve used to fry their Chanukah latkes. Early immigrants relied on goose fat, which was replaced by chicken fat, which was eclipsed by...

Sizzling latkes taste sensational -- but oh that post-frying odor. Photo: Shannon Sarna

Four secrets for making great homemade latkes for Hanukkah

By Beth Harpaz, The ForwardPublished December 6, 2022

I’m always surprised when friends say they can’t be bothered to make homemade latkes for Hanukkah. Takeout latkes or latkes from the frozen foods section or a mix never taste as good as latkes made from scratch. There’s nothing like a golden...

Israeli UFC fighter Natan Levy responds to Kanye West’s antisemitism: ‘Come see me, bro’

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished December 6, 2022

(JTA) — Natan Levy, one of the few Israelis ever to compete in the mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, isn’t pulling any punches in talking about Kanye West’s antisemitism. “Kanye West, if you’ve got a problem with...

Load More Stories