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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

Health

Linda Pevnick

Therapist teaches sleep-deprived how to stop tossing and turning

BY PATRICIA CORRIGAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished December 17, 2015

Finding it hard to get to sleep? Tossing and turning all night? Waking up at 4 a.m.,  held captive by your busy mind? We all have trouble sleeping now and then, but if insomnia is your default position, help may be available. No, this is not an ad for...

Betty Grossman, Lenora Sachar and Micah Schwartz at the Brentmoor.

Mitzvot From the Heart: Micah Schwartz

Published December 3, 2015

Micah Schwartz, Congregation Shaare Emeth   This past spring, Micah, son of Ellie Weiss and Ken Schwartz of Creve Coeur, performed two musical programs for the Brentmoor Retirement Community. He chose this mitzvah project because he loves to sing and...

Should we pray for healing when death is imminent?

By Jennifer Richler , JTAPublished November 18, 2015

Someone I know died today. Although I didn’t know him well, and haven’t seen him in over 20 years, I remember him. In our years at summer camp and at our small Jewish day school, where he was a couple of grades ahead of me, he struck me as simultaneously...

Mia Hollander (third from left) enlisted friends and family to take part in her mitzvah project, which benefited the Ronald McDonald House. 

Mitzvot from the Heart: Mia Hollander

Published November 11, 2015

Mia Hollander, Congregation Shaare Emeth Mia, daughter of Shari and Yale Hollander of Ballwin, has a special connection to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) on West Pine Boulevard in the Central West End. Her mother and grandmother, Barbara Victor, were...

Levi Rose

Mitzvot from the Heart: Levi Rose

Published October 21, 2015

Levi Rose, Congregation B’nai Amoona In the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School newsletter, Levi, son of Rabbi Carnie and Paulie Rose of Creve Coeur, wrote: “Every time I volunteer at the food pantry, I leave feeling that I’ve done something...

Jewish agencies offer ‘mental health first aid’ training

BY PATRICIA CORRIGAN , SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished October 21, 2015

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of St. Louis will offer a free, daylong certification workshop Nov. 17 in “mental health first aid” for professionals and volunteer leaders in the Jewish community. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis,...

Rachel Perera decided to volunteer with Shaare Emeth’s monthly Room at the Inn program, which helps homeless women and families. Here, she plays with a young guest of the program. 

Mitzvot from the Heart: Rachel Perera

Published October 14, 2015

Rachel Perera, Congregation Shaare EmethFor her mitzvah project, Rachel Perera decided to help the homeless. Debbie Bram, Shaare Emeth’s Director of Jewish Life and Learning, told Rachel about the congregation’s monthly Room at the Inn program, welcoming...

From left, Rebecca Sachs worked with Rabbi Larry Glestein, BJC oncology chaplain, and Sara Colby, art specialist at Siteman Cancer Center.

Mitzvot From the Heart: Rebecca Sachs

Rebecca Sachs, Congregation Shaare EmethPublished September 30, 2015

Rebecca said her mitzvah project was amazing. Daughter of Susie and Jonathan Sachs of Ladue, she created and delivered numerous pieces of art to the Leukemia and Lymphoma unit at the Siteman Cancer Center.  Because her grandfather, Ken Steinback, and...

Devin Tockman

Mitzvot from the Heart: Devin Tockman

Mitzvot from the Heart is compiled by Editorial Assistant Elise KrugPublished September 24, 2015

Devin Tockman, United Hebrew CongregationWhen Devin thought about doing a mitzvah project, a few different ideas came to mind. He definitely knew he wanted to do something that would benefit kids who were less fortunate than he. One of the projects Devin...

Koach Baruch FrazierWORK:  Chief audiologist at the Center for Hearing & SpeechHOMe:  University CityFAMILY:  His partner is Melissa Bennett, spiritual director for the Ferguson Center for Spiritual Living INTERESTS:  Reading and making music, including singing, drumming and playing the trombonePERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT:  He is an expert in the physiology of earwax and a member of the board of the Missouri GSA Network, which empowers young people to fight homophobia and transgender phobia in schools.

Audiologist hears call of Judaism, social justice activism

BY PATRICIA CORRIGAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished September 16, 2015

A family friend’s hearing problems first sparked Koach Baruch Frazier’s interest in audiology. What drew him to Judaism after growing up in Kansas City in a family with several African Methodist Episcopal pastors? Keep reading to find out. An audiologist...

A family trip to the nation’s capital inspired Lilly Shaikun  to want to help the homeless through her mitzvah project. 

Mitzvot from the Heart: Lilly Shaikun

Published September 10, 2015

Lilly Shaikun, Congregation Shaare EmethWhen Lilly was seven years old, she and her family were in Washington D.C. and witnessed what it was like to be homeless. She saw several men and women sleeping on park benches while others were just hanging out...

Leah Levenson

Mitzvot from the heart: Leah Levenson

Published August 27, 2015

Leah Levenson, Congregation B’nai AmoonaLeah Levenson’s father has Crohn’s disease, so it was natural for her to support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America-Mid America Chapter (CCFA) for her mitzvah project. Her parents, Stefanie and...

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