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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 Scott B. Saulson, Ph.D.

Kashrut: Perpetual dieting

BY RABBI SCOTT SAULSONPublished July 31, 2013

Even though the messianic thrust of our heritage has been born of a longing for unity, for oneness, for wholeness, for peace, our quotidian concerns and halakhic strictures have repeatedly placed separation and distinctiveness at the forefront of our...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

Children’s questions spark internal spiritual debate

By Rachel LaVictoirePublished July 26, 2013

This summer, I decided to stay in St. Louis to take classes at school. Then, in order to fill the other ten or so hours of my day not occupied by Calculus, I began to look for a job, and eventually met a family that had been looking for an afternoon nanny.The...

Rabbi Brad Horwitz

Parshah Ekev: Walking in God’s ways

By Rabbi Brad HorwitzPublished July 24, 2013

When I watch the local news or read the headlines, I am often depressed to learn about all of the suffering and hardship in our community.  Stories about crime, shootings, and other acts of violence often dominate the top stories. Clearly we live in...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

Hand in hand: Mourning and celebration come intertwined

By Rachel LaVictoirePublished July 18, 2013

When I was little, sometime around ages 5 and 6, I used to love visiting my grandma. Back then, she lived in New York. I wouldn’t be able to describe the house today—what it was made of, how the front yard looked, or even where it was. But I remember...

Rabbi Justin Kerber

If we had to do it all over again…

By Rabbi Justin KerberPublished July 17, 2013

I have loved “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations” ever since I found it as a kid. Bartlett’s felt like a whirlwind tour of great literature, tiny snippets of huge works that I would someday read at greater length. I’m pleased that Bartlett’s isn’t...

Rabbi Justin Kerber is a chaplain for Pathways Community Hospice and the first Jewish chaplain for SSM Health Care Saint Louis, seeing patients at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, Saint Mary’s Health Center and St. Clare Health Center in Fenton. In addition he teaches Judaism to young people and adults and serves as the rabbi of Congregation B’nai Sholom in Quincy, Ill.

D’var Torah: A ‘word’ about inclusion – and leadership

By Rabbi Justin KerberPublished July 11, 2013

In late June, I noticed that Congregation B’nai Amoona had been selected to receive the prestigious 2013 Ruderman Prize for “Radical Inclusion,” recognizing B’nai Amoona for excellence in inclusion, connectivity and community building.  Rabbi...

Rabbi Justin Kerber visits patients in hospice care and in acute care hospital settings. In addition, he teaches Judaism to young people and adults and serves as the rabbi of Congregation B’nai Sholom, Quincy, Ill.

Take vows and oaths seriously

By Rabbi Justin KerberPublished July 3, 2013

Promises, promises.“I do.” “I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United...

Rabbi Josef Davidson is Adjunct Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Amoona and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association.

Parasha Pinchas: The danger of the true believer

By Rabbi Josef DavidsonPublished June 26, 2013

Jewish women congregate at the Wall in Jerusalem to pray.  Because they are wearing Tallitot and chanting from the Torah, they run a gauntlet of “true believers” intent on preventing them from reaching their destination.  These “true believers”...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

Third side to nature vs. nurture debate

By Rachel LaVictoirePublished June 26, 2013

For over two centuries, professionals in the field of psychology have been interested in human development: Do we all develop similarly? Are our personalities predestined or are they the result of our environment? How can we most effectively impact another’s...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

The value of chance: accident or G-d’s design?

By Rachel LaVictoirePublished June 21, 2013

Before he was “Dad,” he was Timothy Gerard LaVictoire—a baby boy born June 24, 1952. Throughout his first 10 years, Tim welcomed one sister and four little brothers into his humble home in Mt. Morris, Mich. He learned how to shoot a gun from his...

Rabbi Mark Fasman serves Congregation Kol Rinah and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association.

Parasha Balak: Is ‘dwelling apart’ a curse and a blessing?

BY Rabbi Mark FasmanPublished June 19, 2013

When is a curse a blessing? Sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which. In our parasha this week, the non-Israelite prophet Balaam is summoned by Moabite King Balak to curse the Israelites. Somehow, throughout Jewish history, we have been seen as a...

Rabbi Suzanne Brody

D’var Torah: Keeping attuned to tone

By Rabbi Suzanne BrodyPublished June 5, 2013

Sometimes, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.As a parent, there are moments when I find myself suddenly furious. It seems as if my children have made just one demand too many. All of the whining and insistence that I drop whatever I am doing...

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