Several years ago, I interviewed Andrew Newman, a member of the John Burroughs School faculty, about his work on what some call “Plastic Islands”—vast patches of ocean and river pollution composed mostly of floating debris. Newman is a professional...

True story. Recently I walked into a public restroom and saw a young mother with a little boy about 2 years old. He was rolling around on the ground — the bathroom floor! — looking under the occupied stall. I asked whether they were in line, and the...

Those familiar with native St. Louisan Michael Kahn’s novels might be surprised to learn that his latest one, “The Gourmet Club,” does not include St. Louis lawyer and supersleuth Rachel Gold, save for a brief cameo. After all, 11 of the 14 books...

When Nina Gilden Seavey was 12, growing up in University City, the Air Force building on Washington University’s campus burned to the ground. Her father, Louis Gilden, a Jewish civil rights attorney whose parents had fled pogroms in Ukraine before settling...

The Art Gallery at Congregation B’nai Amoona’s new exhibit will feature the works of multi-media artists Cheri Hoffman and Cindy Larimore, ceramicists Beverly Aroh and Lisa Korenblat, painter Jerry Summers, and metal sculptor Dale Dicker. The...

I was once asked by the mother of an old friend, “Why I do a “Jewish Joke of the Day.” I responded and she thought I should share my answer with you. I believe as Jews, we love to laugh. I believe Jews love to laugh at themselves and laugh at...

The last word of the title is surprising in “Two Jews Walk Into a War…” The opening words suggest the last one will be “bar” and that a joke will follow. Playwright Seth Rozin thwarts only the first of these expectations. “War” is not the...

Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in Marvel artist Jack Kirby’s world — literally. It’s only at the end of the film that it’s revealed that Earth-828, the version of our planet that Marvel’s First Family ends up saving, is a reference...

This story contains spoilers for the film Guns and Moses. When a member of his congregation, Allan Rosner (Dermot Mulroney), is murdered, the police arrest a young neo-Nazi who has been harassing the congregation. But Rabbi Mo Zaltzman (Mark Feuerstein)...

(JTA) — Award-winning actor and singer Billy Porter sparked controversy while promoting his new lead role in the revival of “Cabaret” on Broadway when he stated that “Black people have replaced the Jews.” The revival of Cabaret, the 1966...

A key cast member in an upcoming production of “The Second Hurricane” is a Jewish St. Louis actor and musician. Bryn Sentnor will play the role of Gwen in the youth opera by Jewish composer Aaron Copeland. It will mark Sentnor’s first time performing...

At a rehearsal about 20 years ago, Seth Rozin - director, playwright, artistic director of Philadelphia’s InterAct Theatre - was approached by one of the actors, a New York Times in his hand. “Look at this,” the actor said. He pointed to a story...