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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

Jewish Movies

How Jews shaped the Western – and how the Western shaped Jews

How Jews shaped the Western – and how the Western shaped Jews

By Olivia HayniePublished May 4, 2025

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. When you think about Jewish contributions to the world of entertainment, your mind probably immediately goes to...

He survived the Nazis, married in a camp, and forged for the Mossad—now his story hits the screen

He survived the Nazis, married in a camp, and forged for the Mossad—now his story hits the screen

Published April 29, 2025

Before he was a Mossad forger, before he became one of Israel’s animation pioneers and long before his cameo in “Schindler’s List,” Joseph Bau was just a guy in a Nazi camp who fell in love. His real story—equal parts horror, romance and resistance—is...

Alicia Silverstone, reprising the role of Cher Horowitz in an ad for Rakuten. by Youtube screenshot

Alicia Silverstone returns as Cher in a new ‘Clueless’ series—this time, it’s officially Jewish

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 23, 2025

When “Clueless” hit theaters in 1995, I didn’t expect it to hit me. I’d grown up on the Brat Pack movies of the 1980s —"The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink" and "Sixteen Candles." By the mid-‘90s, I figured I’d aged out of high school...

Ben Platt attends a discussion of his album "Honeymind" at 92NY on Oct. 9, 2024, in New York City.  (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

Backing fellow Jewish entertainer Hannah Einbinder, Ben Platt says his Jewish identity is ‘not defined’ by Israel

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished April 16, 2025

In his first major public comments about Israel since early in the Gaza war, the Jewish actor Ben Platt said his Jewish identity is not defined by Israel. Platt also voiced support for another Jewish actor, Hannah Einbinder, who has drawn criticism...

Jewish Film Festival: ‘Matchmaking 2’ is a sequel to love

Jewish Film Festival: ‘Matchmaking 2’ is a sequel to love

Cate Marquis, Special to the Jewish LightPublished March 21, 2025

“Matchmaking 2” is the delightful sequel to the amiable Israeli romantic comedy “Matchmaking.” The first comedy was a hit at last year’s St. Louis Jewish Film Festival, selling out two theaters, just as it was a hit elsewhere. This year’s...

Jewish Film Festival: ‘Irena’s Vow’ inspired by true story of survival during WWII

Jewish Film Festival: ‘Irena’s Vow’ inspired by true story of survival during WWII

Cate Marquis, Special to the Jewish LightPublished March 21, 2025

An inspiring true story of one young woman’s courage and resourcefulness in saving the lives of a group of Polish Jews in World War II is the basis of the historic drama “Irena’s Vow.”  Young Irena Gut (Sophie Nelisse) is a nurse from a prosperous...

Irina Starshenbaum in 'Shoshana,' directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Jewish Film Festival: Historical thriller tells story of star-crossed lovers, set in 1938 Tel Aviv

Cate Marquis, Special to the Jewish LightPublished March 21, 2025

Renowned British director Michael Winterbottom's "Shoshana" takes a rare look at Israeli history before it was Israel, and the roots of conflict and impact of British colonial rule, a true tale told through the story of star-crossed lovers. The story...

Buried history uncovered! The shocking Nazi death camp escape you’ve never heard of!

Buried history uncovered! The shocking Nazi death camp escape you’ve never heard of!

Alan Zeitlin (JNS)Published March 20, 2025

There have been many powerful films about the Holocaust, so if one opts to create a new one, one must “bring something new to the conversation,” according to the Israeli-American director Lior Geller. Geller told JNS that the new film “The World...

A reader saw this hilarious Jewish film and wanted to know: Is it coming to St. Louis?

A reader saw this hilarious Jewish film and wanted to know: Is it coming to St. Louis?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 20, 2025

My inbox is always interesting. The other day, I heard from a former St. Louisan named Vic Weisskopf, a veteran who now lives in Chicago but is wisely wintering down in Phoenix, presumably avoiding whatever Midwest weather we're dealing with this week....

From Hollywood extra to documentary star—This journalist’s unexpected movie journey!

From Hollywood extra to documentary star—This journalist’s unexpected movie journey!

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished March 19, 2025

While it wasn’t exactly my big-screen debut — I had a brief stint as an extra in “A League of Their Own” in the early 1990s— it was my first time with a speaking role. And in a truly fitting bit of casting, I played myself. Journalist Shula...

Gal Gadot poses with her husband Jaron Varsano and daughters Alma, Ori, Maya and Daniella during the ceremony inaugurating Gadot's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, March 18, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Gal Gadot unveils star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming first Israeli actor honored there

By Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 19, 2025

Gal Gadot has made history as the first Israeli actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At the ceremony, Gadot reflected on her journey from Rosh Ha’ayin to international stardom, encouraging young women to pursue their dreams. The event,...

Actor and director Jesse Eisenberg speaks at a ceremony in New York City where he received Polish citizenship from Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, March 4, 2025. (Screenshot)

Jesse Eisenberg receives Polish citizenship after ‘A Real Pain,’ set in Poland, wins Oscar

Shira Li Bartov, JTAPublished March 7, 2025

(JTA) — An Oscar for “A Real Pain” wasn’t Jesse Eisenberg’s only win this week — he also received citizenship in Poland, where he filmed the movie about reckoning with one’s family’s Holocaust history. Polish president Andrzej Duda...

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