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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

Dvar Torah

Rabbi Dale Schreiber is a semi-retired chaplain providing Jewish care coordination for Pathways Hospice and Palliative Care, and has a private practice, Renewal-in-Action, specializing in resiliency, spiritual development and compassion fatigue recovery. She is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.

Walk Noah’s way, the way of a ‘Tzaddik’

Rabbi Dale Schreiber, Special to the Jewish LightPublished October 7, 2021

In Jewish thought, Creation and Revelation are considered ongoing, renewable and recyclable. Ideas recorded in the biblical text are often highlighted through liturgy. In the morning, we recite or chant the prayer Yotzer Ohr which refers to God as “former...

Portrait of Rabbi Josef Davidson

D’var Torah: What isn’t perfect is still good enough for the world

RABBI JOSEF DAVIDSONPublished September 30, 2021

There is a popular saying: Beginnings are difficult. It holds true whether it is beginning an article for the paper, a new position in one’s vocation, a new school in one’s education, a new relationship or a new year. Beginnings are awkward,...

Central Reform Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

D’var Torah: I love you with all my broken heart: A blessing for Sukkot

Rabbi James Stone GoodmanPublished September 22, 2021

I was sitting with the truthful linguist, the Sefat Emet, the Gerer, just before he became nifter, er dead, it must have been ’04, maybe ’05 [note: 1905]. The sukkah is a chuppah, he opened with. We wedded God on the way out of Egypt. I am the...

United Hebrew Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

D’var Torah: Moses’ song marks our path to a better future

CANTOR-RABBI RONALD EICHAKERPublished September 16, 2021

Parashat Haazinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52) finds Moses calling on heaven and earth to witness his words. Moses begins by thanking the Almighty and describes the special care afforded the people of Israel. To his disappointment, the people have consistently...

Central Reform Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

D’var Torah: I was there when Moses wrote it down

Rabbi James Stone Goodman Published September 8, 2021

Maqam Bayat. Every Shabbat is associated with a musical figure, a maqam, Arabic cognate of maqom signifying “place.” This is the last day of my life, Moshe Rabbeinu said, and he went and spoke these words to all Israel: “I’m not going out,...

Central Reform Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

Rabbi Karen Kriger Bogard: This is not the time to sweat the small stuff

RABBI KAREN KRIGER BOGARDPublished September 2, 2021

This week, we read from Parshah Nitzavim, the same parshah we read on Yom Kippur morning. We are near the end of the book of Deuteronomy, as well as the death of Moshe rabbeinu, Moses our teacher. Even though the end of the Torah is near, Moses continues...

Rabbi Carnie Rose: We are nearing the season of introspection, accountability

Rabbi Carnie Rose: We are nearing the season of introspection, accountability

RABBI CARNIE SHALOM ROSEPublished August 26, 2021

Each year, as we reread the powerful words of the Book of Deuteronomy in our synagogues, I can’t help but notice how germane its wise teachings are to the season in which we find ourselves: the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which we will...

Central Reform Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

Rabbi James Stone Goodman: Justice and righteousness meet myth and rationality

Rabbi James Stone GoodmanPublished August 12, 2021

Justice is elusive. We learn this from this week’s Torah portion,  the famous tzedek tzedek — justice reiterated and pursued (Deuteronomy 16:20) — a reminder that justice, true justice, transformative justice, necessary justice, requires us to...

Temple Emanuel

Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh: Creating a moral community is our choice

BY RABBI ELIZABETH HERSHPublished August 5, 2021

From “Stories for Public Speakers,” compiled and edited by Morris Mandel: “A man was marooned on an island for years. One day, he saw a ship in the distance and signaled to it. A boat was sent out to him. As the boat approached the shore...

In August 2019, Rabbi Lane Steinger is flanked by Michelle, Esther and  Joel Weltman at Temple Israel in Godfrey, Ill. during a Friday night Shabbat service. 

Readings for a deeper dive into Deuteronomy verse

RABBI LANE STEINGERPublished July 29, 2021

Whenever I start to study this week’s Torah Portion, Eikev, Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25, I am drawn to one particular verse. It is Deuteronomy 8:10, the context of which refers to the bounty of the Promised Land and the food it will provide. The verse states:...

Portrait of Rabbi Josef Davidson

D’var Torah: Life is a sacred journey; share it

RABBI JOSEF DAVIDSONPublished July 8, 2021

If you have been paying close attention to social media or advertisements on television, you have noticed that as summer began, more and more people returned to traveling. This is due in large part, of course, to the fact that, overall, people...

Our world is better having met the daughters of Zelophehad

Our world is better having met the daughters of Zelophehad

RABBI NEAL ROSEPublished July 1, 2021

Have you met the daughters of Zelophehad? They are the five brave women we encounter in this week’s Torah portion (Parashat Pinchas), in which we hear their impassioned plea to Moses regarding their and their deceased father’s right to inherit...

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