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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

Lifestyles

Photo of author Dean Robbins with book cover image

St. Louis native returns for the J’s Children’s Mitzvah Program

BILL MOTCHAN, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 20, 2022

Dean Robbins fondly remembers growing up in St. Louis and playing softball at the Jewish Community Center. When he was rounding the bases, “I was thinking about Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Lou Brock and all the great Cardinal stars in the late ’60s.” He...

Members of the mishpacha group celebrate Hanukkah in 2015.

St. Louis ‘mishpacha’ group has been connecting participants for 40 years

BILL MOTCHAN, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 20, 2022

In December, a St. Louis mishpacha (family) group created by the Jewish Community Center celebrated its 40-year anniversary. The 15-family group includes two original members. Through four decades, they’ve celebrated simchas and mourned losses together....

black silhouettes of three groups of different teen people standing and talking to each other

Think going ham on teenspeak makes me tucked? Bet!

AMY FENSTER BROWNPublished February 18, 2022

Just days ago, my older kid turned 16. Sixteen! That means in addition to driving us crazy, he’s driving himself and his little brother all over town. Said little brother will be 15 pretty soon.  These two above-average mensches are full of thoughts...

Israel to end ‘Green Pass’ rules requiring vaccination or recovery to enter public venues

Israel to end ‘Green Pass’ rules requiring vaccination or recovery to enter public venues

Published February 17, 2022

(JTA) — Israel is dropping its “Green Pass” system that allowed access to public venues only to people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Since the pandemic’s start, Israel has been at the forefront of many phases: infection,...

I’m a queer Mizrahi Jew who left the NY Orthodox world. This ‘bubby’ took me in.

I’m a queer Mizrahi Jew who left the NY Orthodox world. This ‘bubby’ took me in.

Published February 16, 2022

This article first appeared on Alma. In Orthodox Judaism, a child’s Hebrew name is given within the first week. The rules for our lives are predetermined, assigned based on our gender at birth. Since I was born, I knew inside that I was created differently...

Chopped liver's redemption found in The Yiddish Word(s) Of The Week

Chopped liver’s redemption found in The Yiddish Word(s) Of The Week

Published February 14, 2022

According to the YIVO, the Institute of Jewish Research, the term “Yiddish” is derived from the German word for “Jewish.” The most accepted (but not the only) theory of the origin of Yiddish is that it began to take shape by the 10th century...

First gene therapy for Tay-Sachs disease successfully given to two children

First gene therapy for Tay-Sachs disease successfully given to two children

Miguel Sena-Esteves, Associate Professor of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical SchoolPublished February 14, 2022

Two babies have received the fStoriesirst-ever gene therapy for Tay-Sachs disease after over 14 years of development. Tay-Sachs is a severe neurological disease caused by a deficiency in an enzyme called HexA. This enzyme breaks down a fatlike substance...

Take Your Antidepressants. It’s a Mitzvah.

Kate Hennessey, KvellerPublished February 14, 2022

I feel like I’m waking up after over a year of being a groggy golem: functional, but without much motivation or desire of my own. I realized recently that I don’t take many pictures of myself anymore and I think I’ve been unconsciously avoiding...

Freshman Sarrah Wilkes, sophomore Rebekah Sheff, and freshman Sydney Kolker enjoy Cafe Chabad on Wednesday night.

College life: Allowing your child to soar

DEBRA KLEVENSPublished February 10, 2022

It was 2 a.m. in March of 2020, and my daughter and I watched the COVID news while scrolling through Hillel’s College Guide to find schools with a Jewish population. One by one, we went through the list to find a school with a Jewish population....

Rabbi Shmuel Miller is Head of School at Epstein Hebrew Academy.

Working through challenges nourishes our lives—and our children’s

RABBI SHMUEL MILLERPublished February 9, 2022
Epstein Hebrew Academy Head of School Rabbi Shmuel Miller offers 'nuggets of wisdom that may help fuel your child and the child within you'
Eliana Light

Jewish Song of the Week: ‘The Mishkan Song’ by Eliana Light

Published February 9, 2022

“The Mishkan Song” by Eliana Light (JKids Radio) "Now is the time of year when we read in the Torah about how the Israelites all contributed to building the Mishkan (Tabernacle), a sanctuary where they could feel close to God. Eliana Light’s...

Warning: I’m venting, and it’s no laughing matter

Warning: I’m venting, and it’s no laughing matter

AMY FENSTER BROWNPublished February 8, 2022

Everyone has pet peeves. Everyone has things that annoy them to no end. And everyone has to let those things out to free the space in their mind being taken up by negativity.  Because you and I have built this relationship of acceptance and trust,...

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