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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 Pop Culture

The new "Hollywoodland: Jewish Founders and the Making of a Movie Capital" exhibit at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. (Josh White, JWPictures/Academy Museum Foundation)

LA’s Academy Museum initially excluded Hollywood’s Jewish origins. A new exhibit on Jewish film pioneers fixes that.

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished May 20, 2024

LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Today’s understanding of Hollywood — the glitz, the glam, the red carpets and paparazzi — are a far cry from the film industry’s humble beginnings, when a group of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe laid the groundwork...

Jessica Cohen has translated more than 30 books and dozens of shorter works by some of the most renowned Israeli writers. (Graphic: Andrew Esensten; Photo: Soona)

How Jessica Cohen became the go-to English translator of contemporary Israeli literature

Andrew Esensten, JTAPublished May 20, 2024

Sign up now to attend JTA’s event with translator Jessica Cohen on May 20 at 6 p.m. ET online. (J. Jewish News of Northern California via JTA) — Anyone who has read any books or essays by contemporary Israeli writers has probably encountered...

Dan Ahdoot.

The funniest Iranian Jew in the world is coming to St. Louis

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished May 15, 2024

A special night of comedy, food and fellowship is coming up June 10 at The Factory in Chesterfield. The Men’s Event is being planned by Jewish Federation to bring together a wide cross-section of the community. According to Amy Bornstein, senior...

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox.

The secret Jewish history of cicadas

By Seth Rogovoy, The ForwardPublished May 15, 2024

Do you hear that? What’s that buzzing noise? If you live between Tennessee and New York — especially if you live in Ohio, Maryland, or the Virginias — and if it’s mid-to-late May or June, chances are good that what you’re hearing are...

The rappers Drake, left, and Kendrick Lamar have been trading insults in a series of songs that have aroused commentary far beyond the music world.

Understanding the Jewishness of the pop culture phenomenon known as the ‘Great Rap War’

Jonathan Branfman, JTAPublished May 15, 2024

(JTA) — Breathless headlines have tracked the recent “Great Rap War” between Drake, a biracial Jewish Canadian rap superstar, and Kendrick Lamar, a Black non-Jewish American rap superstar. Over the past few weeks, Drake and Lamar have bashed...

Eden Golan performs an emotional rendition of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," surrounded by empty chairs representing the missing hostages, for her grand finale performance to represent Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. (Screenshot via Mako.co.il)

Israel’s Eden Golan advances to Eurovision final as thousands protest in Malmö

Shira Li Bartov, JTAPublished May 10, 2024

(JTA) — Israeli singer Eden Golan advanced to Eurovision’s final on Thursday night, hours after thousands of people protested her inclusion in the contest while Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza continues. In Malmö, the Swedish port city hosting...

Cardinals call up rookie Carolyn Losos, who then retires after one pitch

Cardinals call up rookie Carolyn Losos, who then retires after one pitch

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 8, 2024

The St. Louis Cardinals, mired in a three-game losing streak, needed something special to create a winning spark Tuesday night. So, they called up local civic leader and lifetime educator Carolyn Losos to take the mound. The hope was Losos, who has been...

Jerry Seinfeld said that network sitcoms lost their sizzle. Photo by Jeffery Neira/ NETFLIX

In Seinfeld’s newest kvetch, a tale of two Pop-Tart jokes

By PJ Grisar, The ForwardPublished April 29, 2024

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. Jerry Seinfeld, promoting his new film about a fictive arms race to invent toaster pastries, says they don’t make...

Fauda (Netflix)

10 best Israeli shows and films to catch on Netflix

By Naama Barak, Israel21c.orgPublished April 29, 2024

Hit TV show Fauda is probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Israeli content that has taken the world by storm. But the action-packed world of Doron Kabilio et al is far from the only fabulous made-in-Israel show you can catch...

Robin WIlliams at the Happy Feet Two Australian Premiere 4 December 2011,

Robin Williams’ retelling of the Passover story never gets old

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 19, 2024

Robin Williams was not a Jew, but perhaps it was because of his lifetime friendship and professional partnership with Jewish comedy legend Billy Crystal that many people think he was indeed Jewish. Williams, who died in 2014, embraced Jewish culture...

Buzz Off! Why I’m serving up unfiltered truth to nosy advice-givers

Buzz Off! Why I’m serving up unfiltered truth to nosy advice-givers

BY AMY FENSTER BROWNPublished April 18, 2024

Recently I read an article about home organization. The expert suggested vacuuming in natural light to really be able to see dirt and debris, so you won’t have to go back and do touch ups. Until that moment, I had no idea going back and doing touch...

"MATZA MIA: Six13's Passover parody is the matzah ball of musical mashups!

“MATZA MIA: Six13’s Passover parody is the matzah ball of musical mashups!

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 17, 2024

Just in time for the first night of Passover, Jewish a cappella group Six13 dropped their latest musical parody video - MATZA MIA! If the title doesn't jump out at you, it's a not to the legendary Swedish quartet ABBA, who rocked the world of disco...

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