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

Now included in Yiddish theater’s renaissance: an entire ‘Jeopardy!’ category

Now included in Yiddish theater’s renaissance: an entire ‘Jeopardy!’ category

Published December 10, 2021

(JTA) — In recent years, Yiddish theater has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence, with Yiddish-language performances wowing audiences in New York, online and, last month, Stockholm. But perhaps its biggest audience yet came on Thursday night, when “Jeopardy!”...

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Soviet Jews?

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Soviet Jews?

Published December 8, 2021

David Apfel lives in Israel and is an accomplished entertainer and chazzan. He sings in several languages with ranging from Broadway musicals to opera. He has officiated internationally at several orthodox synagogues and he also specializes in ''Kosher...

Photo courtesy of Apple TV Plus

How Paul Rudd’s likeability aides his versatility on ‘The Shrink Next Door’

Dan Buffa, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 8, 2021

The only thing more impressive than Paul Rudd's ruthless inability to age is his versatility on camera. "The Shrink Next Door," currently in its first season on Apple TV Plus, is proof of that. But the 52-year-old Jewish actor became a cinematic everyman...

That time Tom Waits taught Bob Dylan how to curse in Yiddish

That time Tom Waits taught Bob Dylan how to curse in Yiddish

Seth Rogovoy, The ForwardPublished December 7, 2021

“This story was originally published on December 7, by the Forward. Sign up here to get the latest stories from the Forward delivered to you each morning.” Tom Waits, whose colorful career in music and entertainment began around 1970, turns...

From Gwynn Nobil Loomstein

St. Louis shows of their pajamukkahs

Published December 2, 2021

It's been argued that Hanukkah gear should be just as good and as fun as Christmas gear. I am not a huge fan of Hanukkah sweaters — but this year I've become a big fan of Hanukkah PJs! After all, for a typically home-based holiday that’s all about...

Larry David has never been more Jewish than in this season’s ‘Curb’

Larry David has never been more Jewish than in this season’s ‘Curb’

Published December 2, 2021

(JTA) — “Curb Your Enthusiasm” has always been a Jewy show, but this season it is downright Jewish. On the HBO sitcom, now in its 11th season, Larry David has never been shy about surfacing, and lampooning, Judaism and Jewishness. He has contemplated...

"Mrs. Maisel" return date is set

“Mrs. Maisel” return date is set

Dan Buffa, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 2, 2021

In case you don't get a valentine this February, there's now a strong fallback option: Binge "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" on Amazon ahead of its Season 4 premiere on Feb. 18. **MILD SPOILER ALERT** One of television's talked-about and critically-acclaimed...

8 fun ‘facts’ for Hannu- … Chana- … whatever

8 fun ‘facts’ for Hannu- … Chana- … whatever

Amy Fenster Brown, Special For The Jewish LightPublished December 2, 2021

Thanksgiving came to a close last week and just as we finished our leftovers, Chanukah showed up. So did Hanukkah, Hannuka and the other dozen or so ways the holiday gets spelled. I especially like the rare and elusive spelling Xanukah, because it...

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Mr. Schwartz?

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Mr. Schwartz?

Published December 1, 2021

From Groucho Marx to the Borscht Belt to Sarah Silverman, many of America’s best-known comedians have been Jewish. And so important is humor to Jewish culture that a landmark study on American Jewish identity in 2013 found that 42 percent of American...

A photo of Mel Brooks taken for Mademoiselle Magazine while Brooks was filming “History of the World: Part I” in 1980-81.

Mel Brooks Quiz

Published November 30, 2021

To celebrate the release of his new biography, test your knowledge about the great Jewish comedian! /**/

Mel Brooks on "Mel Brooks Unwrapped": “It is kind of a walk through my life, a memoir. Some of it is funny and some of it is moving and touching." (HBO) 

Mel Brooks’ 500 pages on himself

PJ Grisar, ForwardPublished November 30, 2021

This story 'Mel Brooks' 500 pages on himself' was originally published on Nov. 30 by the Forward. Sign up here to get the latest stories from the Forward delivered to you each morning.” All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business By...

Stephen Colbert thinks there aren’t enough Hanukkah movies, so he made up some of his own

Published November 30, 2021

(JTA) — Stephen Colbert gave Jewish viewers of the Late Show a special Hanukkah gift Monday night: a bit about the glut of Christmas movies and the lack of Hanukkah films. Get more stories like this. Sign up for JTA’s Daily Briefing. SUBSCRIBE...

Load More Stories