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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 Humor

Clara Deitchman

Yiddish things my bubbe said to me

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 21, 2025

Since joining the Jewish Light I’ve reflected on my own Jewish experience growing up and part of that was the Yiddish my grandparents would use, particularly my maternal grandparents whom I affectionately named Mama and Baba. Both would use Yiddish...

Notes From A Jewish Mother: Oh, for a nap—or at least an off button for the brain

Notes From A Jewish Mother: Oh, for a nap—or at least an off button for the brain

BY AMY FENSTER BROWNPublished February 19, 2025

Raise your hand if you need a nap. Doesn’t that sound glorious? We work hard, we have tasks and chores at home, we run around doing errands and keeping up with our social lives … it’s exhausting.  Little kids are encouraged to take daily naps,...

Mrs. Roper’s Romps have popped up In dozens of cities across America, including St. Louis.

Curls, caftans and cocktails: Carry on with Mrs. Roper’s Romp and you’ll have more than 3 for company

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

On a Saturday morning earlier this month in Fort Myers Beach (FMB), Fla., a truly unusual sight unfolded along the city’s main downtown drag: a colorful procession of people in flowing caftans, curly red wigs and chunky costume jewelry, all strolling...

American comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Credit: Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum.

Seinfeld shuts down anti-Israel activist: ‘I don’t care about Palestine’

JNS StaffPublished February 18, 2025

The American comedian Jerry Seinfeld swiftly shot down an anti-Israel activist telling him he doesn’t “care about Palestine” when the online personality attempted to ambush him this weekend with a video, according to a clip posted on social media...

How a classmate got me hooked on ‘Saturday Night Live’—and my favorite Jewish moments in its 50-year history

How a classmate got me hooked on ‘Saturday Night Live’—and my favorite Jewish moments in its 50-year history

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 13, 2025

I first discovered "Saturday Night Live" the way a lot of kids did—through an older, slightly cooler classmate. It must have been in 1978 or 1979. Richard Shaw was the biggest kid at Spoede School -- not just in height but in presence. Every Monday...

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about the mayor's wife?

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about the mayor’s wife?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 30, 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. I believe as Jews, we love to laugh. I believe Jews love to laugh at themselves and laugh at the...

Vanessa Hidary

Meet or re-meet Vanessa Hidary, ‘The Hebrew Mamita’

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 16, 2025

Vanessa Hidary isn’t your typical Jewish storyteller. The self-proclaimed “Hebrew Mamita” has turned her multicultural experiences into a long and, dare I say, provocative career as a spoken word artist, poet and cultural commentator. Who is Vanessa? According...

From the Holocaust to hilarity: New book reveals how laughter keeps Jewish spirits alive

From the Holocaust to hilarity: New book reveals how laughter keeps Jewish spirits alive

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 3, 2025

Jewish humor isn’t just about getting a laugh—it’s an essential part of Jewish identity. According to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, 34% of American Jews say having a sense of humor is a crucial aspect of their Jewish identity. That’s more...

Notes From A Jewish Mother: A Hanukkah gift: 8 nights of random musings

Notes From A Jewish Mother: A Hanukkah gift: 8 nights of random musings

Amy Fenster BrownPublished December 19, 2024

The holiday season is about to kick into high gear.  This year we’ve got Hanukkah and Christmas on the same day, followed a week later by New Year’s Eve.  That’s a lot of celebrating, eating and drinking interspersed with gift giving, gift receiving...

Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff in the Hallmark movie  ‘Hanukkah on the Rocks.’

Hallmark does Hanukkah right

Ellen Futterman, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 18, 2024

As regular readers know, I am a sucker for entirely predictable made-for-TV holiday movies. Little does it matter to me that five minutes into the plot, it’s clear who’s going to wind up with whom two hours later. My expectations for anything meaningful,...

Mayim Bialik shares her hot takes about bagels

Mayim Bialik shares her hot takes about bagels

Lior Zaltzman, KvellerPublished December 15, 2024

This week, comedian and Jewish mom Iliza Shlesinger had actress Mayim Bialik on the first YouTube episode of her podcast, “Ask Iliza Anything,” and rightfully introduced her as everyone’s “favorite Jewish person” to share a hot take in a segment...

‘Wicked’ clever: Six13’s latest Hanukkah parody hits all the right notes

‘Wicked’ clever: Six13’s latest Hanukkah parody hits all the right notes

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 12, 2024

Jewish a cappella sensation Six13, known for their creative and entertaining Hanukkah parodies, has once again brightened the Festival of Lights. This year, their newest video channels the magic of the Broadway and big screen hit "Wicked," bringing a...

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