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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 Holidays

The Hanukkah 2024 stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp in panes of 20. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price.

The Hanukkah stamp with no candles – What’s the hidden message?

Jackie Hajdenberg, JTAPublished September 10, 2024

(JTA) — As an art director at the United States Postal Service, Antonio Alcalá has designed stamps honoring Woodstock, the Emancipation Proclamation and Ezra Jack Keats’ children’s book classic “A Snowy Day.” But this year’s USPS Hanukkah...

Why Shavuot is the least-observed major Jewish holiday and 9 other interesting factoids

Why Shavuot is the least-observed major Jewish holiday and 9 other interesting factoids

Published June 12, 2024

This story originally appeared on Kveller  Shavuot is rather multifaceted; its date, significance, traditions, and evolution are filled with holiness — and many unknowns. Ask three Jewish educators why it’s customary to enjoy dairy delicacies on...

Four St. Louis Reform congregations unite for first ever intercongregational Shavuot celebration

Four St. Louis Reform congregations unite for first ever intercongregational Shavuot celebration

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 6, 2024

For the first time, four Reform congregations in St. Louis are collaborating for a unique Shavuot celebration. "Connections, Commandments and Cheesecake" is a joint effort by Congregation Shaare Emeth, Congregation Temple Israel, Temple Emanuel and...

Haggadah shel Pesah, translated by Sonia Gronemann and illustrated by Otto Geismar. Made in Berlin, 1927.
Isser and Rae Price Library of Judaica , CC BY-ND

From sumptuous engravings to stick-figure sketches, Passover Haggadahs − and their art − have been evolving for centuries

Rebecca J.W. Jefferson, University of FloridaPublished April 24, 2024

The Jewish festival of Passover recalls the biblical story of the Israelites enslaved by Egypt and their miraculous escape. During a ritual feast known as a Seder, families celebrate this ancient story of deliverance, with each new generation reminded...

Feeling stuck this Pesach? Rabbi Rosenberg may have the solution!

Feeling stuck this Pesach? Rabbi Rosenberg may have the solution!

Rabbi Brigitte RosenbergPublished April 24, 2024

Pesach feels different this year. Likely, we are all experiencing a mix of emotions; sad, angry, scared, frustrated, and stuck in place, like it has forever been Oct. 7. We’re supposed to celebrate with joy this festival known, as Zman Cherutaynu, season...

Soft matzo was once the norm throughout the Jewish world. Photo by Sam Lin-Sommer

No, your matzo doesn’t need to be drier than the Sinai

By Sam Lin-Sommer, The ForwardPublished April 19, 2024

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. I look forward to Passover every Spring. It’s a raucous affair of wine, food and storytelling, and I can’t get enough...

Mehren und Mandlen Torte (Carrot and Almond Torte). Photo: Michael Kahn

From lamb to brisket: Discovering the diverse flavors of Passover

Margi Lenga Kahn, Special to the Jewish LightPublished April 18, 2024

Many are surprised to learn that the menus for traditional Passover meals vary widely within the Jewish world. For example, the traditional Sephardic Passover dishes might include Kodrero con Ajo Fresco (lamb with green garlic), Berenjena (savory...

Marilen Pitler holds her special seder plate.

Unveiling the some of the quirkiest seder traditions in St. Louis

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN & BILL MOTCHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished April 17, 2024

No doubt when Passover begins at sundown Monday, April 22, thousands of St. Louis Jewish families will be marking the holiday with a seder that evening and possibly the next during the eight-day holiday. Just as likely as the seder itself is having a...

"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...

A Jewish mother and an illustrator have teamed up to create an unofficial Taylor Swift haggadah for Passover this year. (Courtesy Shelley Atlas Serber, Wikimedia. Design by Jackie Hajdenberg)

The exodus story you know ‘All Too Well’ gets retold in new Taylor Swift haggadah

Jackie Hajdenberg, JTAPublished April 10, 2024

(JTA) — Taylor Swift has (unofficially) entered her Exodus era. Swifties can now express their love for the pop icon while celebrating Passover, thanks to the “Unofficial Taylor Swift Haggadah,” written by author Na’ama Ben-David. Ben-David...

Chabad invites St. Louis Jews to multiple community Passover seders

Chabad invites St. Louis Jews to multiple community Passover seders

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 9, 2024

As Passover draws near this year, Chabad is gearing up to welcome hundreds of attendees to public Passover seders on the first two nights of the holiday— on April 22 and 23. The community seders take participants through the story...

Cacio e Pepe Matzah Brei Recipe

Cacio e Pepe Matzah Brei Recipe

By Stephanie Ganz, The NosherPublished April 5, 2024

This recipe was first published on The Nosher.  Cacio e pepe translates to cheese and pepper, and the classic Roman pasta dish includes little more than those eponymous ingredients. In that recipe, spaghetti and salted pasta water combine with a salty...

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