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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

Lenny Kravitz performs during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY NETWORK

He wears a chai, he eats matzo and he’s coming to Forest Park: Lenny Kravitz returns to STL

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 10, 2025

Last October, just before Yom Kippur, Lenny Kravitz posted a photo on Instagram that stopped Jewish fans like me mid-scroll. There he was, cool as ever, wearing a gold chai necklace—an unmistakable Jewish symbol. The caption read, “Life has never...

Noah Wyle in HBO's "The Pitt." (Warrick Page/MAX)

Noah Wyle, star of HBO’s ‘The Pitt,’ recites Shema on screen

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished April 6, 2025

(JTA) — Jewish fans of HBO’s “The Pitt” heard a familiar verse in the hit medical drama’s latest episode when the show’s main character, Dr. Michael Robinavitch, consoled himself by reciting the Shema. A scene at the beginning of the 14th...

Six13’s new Passover parody drops: Bruno Mars meets matzah

Six13’s new Passover parody drops: Bruno Mars meets matzah

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 3, 2025

It’s become a bit of a Passover tradition — just when you’re knee-deep in cleaning and planning for seder, the Jewish a cappella group Six13 drops a new parody video to lighten the mood. This year is no different. On Thursday, the group released...

Empty nest, full heart: one Jewish mom’s hilarious, honest take on her kids growing up

Empty nest, full heart: one Jewish mom’s hilarious, honest take on her kids growing up

Amy Fenster Brown, Special To The Jewish LightPublished April 2, 2025

My son, Leo, just turned 18. My youngest. My baby. Even though he will always be my baby, to the world he is a legal adult. I have two legal adult children. Old people have adult children, and I’m not the same age as old people, am I? Technically I’m...

Dr. Harley Hammerman brings back Balaban’s & Chez Leon memories in latest podcast drop

Dr. Harley Hammerman brings back Balaban’s & Chez Leon memories in latest podcast drop

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 31, 2025

"Lost Tables" continues to bring St. Louis’ restaurant history to life—one bite at a time. Jewish St. Louis restaurant historian Dr. Harley Hammerman, known for his deep dives into local dining history, has dropped two new episodes of his podcast...

David Alper

The dual artistic worlds of St. Louis’ own David Alper

Published March 31, 2025

For artist David Alper, every creation begins with a vision that merges tradition and innovation. On this February morning inside his garage studio in his Olivette home, it's cold. The glow of his oxygen-propane torch reflects off his protective glasses...

'Jews in the Lou': Real conversations over pastrami, pickles and Jewish identity

‘Jews in the Lou’: Real conversations over pastrami, pickles and Jewish identity

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 30, 2025

Some of the best conversations happen over a good meal, and for Alex Rich and Ben Poremba, that’s exactly the idea behind "Jews in the Lou." Filmed at Deli Divine and produced in partnership with St. Louis Jewish Light, the social media series brings...

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about dusting?

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about dusting?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 27, 2025

I was recently 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...

Chaim Grade’s "Sons and Daughters" was originally serialized in the 1960s and '70s, in New York–based Yiddish newspapers. (YIVO; Alfred. A. Knopf)

How the Yiddish writer Chaim Grade’s last novel was rescued from the archives, and wrestled into print

Andrew Silow-CarrollPublished March 27, 2025

Sixty years after he first began serializing it in the Yiddish press, and 42 years after publisher Alfred A. Knopf acquired the book, “Sons and Daughters” — the last novel by the late, great Yiddish novelist Chaim Grade — is landing in bookstores...

A five-story replica of a stamp of Superman in 1998 in Cleveland, home of the superhero’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File

See you in the funny papers: How superhero comics tell the story of Jewish America

Miriam Eve Mora, University of MichiganPublished March 26, 2025

Nearly a hundred years ago, a hastily crafted spaceship crash-landed in Smallville, Kansas. Inside was an infant – the sole survivor of a planet destroyed by old age. Discovering he possessed superhuman strength and abilities, the boy committed...

(L) Jayson Heil in "All My Sons." (R)  Jacob Schmidt and Spencer Sickmann in "Trayf."

From “Trayf” to triumph: New Jewish Theatre actors snag spotlight at awards gala

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 26, 2025

The New Jewish Theatre (NJT) continued its streak of excellence at the 2025 St. Louis Theater Circle Awards, bringing home three acting honors across two standout productions. Actors Jacob Schmidt and Spencer Sickmann were recognized for their comedic...

Bottom of the email photos

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 26, 2025

Shalom, and welcome to the new archive of all the bottom of the email photos. I get asked about them a lot and if I'm saving them. I wasn't, but now I am. Jordan May 27   May 21   May 18 May 16 May...

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