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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 Food

A Manischewitz mock-up for the new gefilte dog. Courtesy of Manischewitz-KAYCO/Joseph Jacobs

Why Manischewitz is taking Twitter by storm

By Mira Fox, The ForwardPublished July 10, 2022

You might associate Manischewitz with painfully sweet wine in a square bottle, or perhaps with the Passover coffee cake mix your bubbe makes every year and the tin of coconut macaroons in her pantry. You...

Lefty's Bagels opening new store

Lefty’s Bagels opening new store

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 6, 2022

In April of 2021, Scott Lefton, co-owner of "Lefty’s Bagels" told the Jewish Light, “Judging how weekend sales go, we’ll see if we can grow it into weekday sales and then maybe have our own, brick-and-mortar...

Why Pumpernickles Deli had to close

Why Pumpernickles Deli had to close

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 5, 2022

“We did not fail. It was the numbers,” said Harlan Levin, owner and chief kibitzer at Pumpernickles Deli, which officially closed its doors on July 4. “We could have stayed open, but the grind with...

Pumpernickles Deli officially closed

Pumpernickles Deli officially closed

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 4, 2022

The iconic Pumpernickles Delicatessen in Creve Coeur is permanently closing.  In a Facebook post published on Monday, just before 2 p.m., deli management announced that the decision to shutter the...

Hamantaschen in July? Yep, it's now a thing

Hamantaschen in July? Yep, it’s now a thing

Published July 1, 2022

My grandfather, Baba, used to joke how because he was Jewish, he'd never lose weight. He would remind us how many of our holidays were based on the idea that someone didn't like us, someone tried to kill...

The short history of challah

The short history of challah

LIZ SUSMAN KARP, MY JEWISH LEARNINGPublished June 23, 2022

Of the essential elements comprising Judaism, perhaps the most universally known and beloved is challah, the centerpiece of the weekly Shabbat table and many holidays. Yet challah did not start out...

Schmaltz is strained from a bowl of gribenes. Image by Courtesy of Tori Avey, The Shiksa in the Kitchen

Jewish dishes we miss

Leah Koenig, The ForwardPublished June 23, 2022

The Eastern European Jews who immigrated to America in the early 20th century brought with them the flavors of home — hearty peasant foods seasoned with grease, onions and brine. Out of this gastronomic...

Where St. Louis Jews go to find their favorite Challah

Where St. Louis Jews go to find their favorite Challah

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 23, 2022

Challah is a perfect symbol of the Jewish faith. It's the centerpiece of the Shabbat table and has become interwoven into all fabrics of Jewish society in one way or another. Challah is made in various...

Where to find Challah in STL: Broyt Baking

Where to find Challah in STL: Broyt Baking

Published June 21, 2022

If you're only going to do two things, or in this case, bake two things, they better be pretty darn good. Mitch Furman, owner of Broyt Baking bakes two things pretty darn well: challah and babka. In...

"Challah Dolly" is not your bubbe’s challah

“Challah Dolly” is not your bubbe’s challah

Shani R. Friedman, In partneship with TC|JewfolkPublished June 19, 2022

During the pandemic, many people have taken up hobbies or learned new skills, some to keep from losing their minds, others for more entrepreneurial reasons. Dolly Meckler, founder of Challah Dolly,...

"It's in the sizzle" | The burger that's been a "smash" in St. Louis since 1934

“It’s in the sizzle” | The burger that’s been a “smash” in St. Louis since 1934

Bill Motchan, Special For The Jewish LightPublished June 15, 2022

Like toasted ravioli and provel cheese, St. Louis is inextricably linked to the hamburger. The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Forest Park was a coming- out party for the hamburger. Three decades...

Where St. Louis Jews go to find their favorite pastrami

Where St. Louis Jews go to find their favorite pastrami

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 13, 2022

Recently we published a culinary investigation into the hotly debated question, "Where does pastrami really come from?" There’s a rumor about the history of pastrami. That it’s from Texas, not New...

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