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

Israel News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on April 10, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/FLASH90)

Schumer says Netanyahu has ‘lost his way’, calls for new elections

Luke Tress, JTAPublished March 14, 2024

(JTA) – In a landmark speech, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way,” urged new elections in Israel, called for a two-state solution and said the United States should use its “leverage”...

For thousands of Israeli soldiers wounded in Gaza, a long journey to recovery of body and mind

For thousands of Israeli soldiers wounded in Gaza, a long journey to recovery of body and mind

Eliyahu Freedman, JTAPublished February 29, 2024

RAMAT GAN, Israel (JTA) — In December, Nechemia, a combat engineer, was serving in Gaza alongside his close friend when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to them. Nechemia suffered severe shrapnel injuries on one side of his body, one of four...

Stan Polovets (right) cofounder of the Genesis Prize, with some of the 2024 awardees, the parents of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Rachel Goldberg (center) and Jon Polin (left), for their activism on the hostages held in Gaza.

Groups working to support Israeli hostages and their families awarded 2024 ‘Jewish Nobel’

JACKIE HAJDENBERG, JTAPublished February 28, 2024

(JTA) — Five Israeli groups supporting Israelis held hostage in Gaza and their families will receive the 2024 Genesis Prize, the $1 million award known as the “Jewish Nobel.” Presented annually since 2013, the award is given by the Genesis...

Throughout his life, a new documentary informs us, Pollard was obsessed with excelling and obtaining accolades. Courtesy of ChaiFlicks

Hippie, hero, traitor, spy — the baffling legacy of Jonathan Pollard

By Simi HorwitzPublished February 22, 2024

The “Pollard Affair,” as it came to be known, was one of the most significant upheavals in the history of American-Israeli government relations. An American Jewish U.S. intelligence officer with a single-minded ambition to save Israel, Jonathan Pollard...

Israeli security and rescue forces at the scene of a terror shooting attack near Maaleh Adumim, in the West Bank, Feb. 22, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

1 killed, 11 wounded in shooting attack on West Bank security checkpoint line

Published February 22, 2024

(JTA) — At least one Israeli was killed in an early morning shooting attack on the highway leading from the Israeli West Bank settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim to Jerusalem. Eleven others were wounded in the terror attack Thursday morning, one seriously....

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) speaking at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr, creative commons.

Senator asks Biden to clarify if US sees Jerusalem as part of ‘West Bank’

Menachem Wecker, JNSPublished February 21, 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden’s Feb. 1 executive order, imposing sanctions on “persons undermining peace, security and stability in the West Bank,” runs 1,699 words. None of those words is “Jerusalem.” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) wrote to Biden...

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, tours the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount on an official visit to Israel, June 28, 2018. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

Prince William calls for more aid to Gaza, release of hostages

Rolene Marks (JNS)Published February 20, 2024

  Britain’s Prince William released a statement on Tuesday calling for more aid into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as well as the release of the remaining 134 Israeli hostages being held by Palestinian terrorists. “I remain deeply concerned...

Contrails of Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile defense system strike Hamas rockets overhead as Hamas militants in Gaza continue fire into Israel, despite being targeted by more than 14,000 strikes during eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground offensive, in Sderot, Israel, Dec. 4, 2023. (Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

Joe Biden is pressing Congress to send $14B to Israel. What is the emergency aid for?

Ron Kampeas, JTAPublished February 20, 2024

  WASHINGTON, D.C. (JTA) — For months, President Joe Biden has asked for — and Congress has debated — sending wartime foreign aid to Israel as it battles Hamas in the Gaza Strip.  The bill currently on the table, passed in a bipartisan...

Ambulance honoring U-City couple delivers four new lives in Israel

Ambulance honoring U-City couple delivers four new lives in Israel

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 14, 2024

In a heartwarming story of generosity and life-saving intervention, former St. Louisan Dr. Irvin Pretsky’s gift to Israel has resulted in four new lives being brought into the world under unique circumstances. In 2022, Pretsky, 88, an anesthesiology...

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Bob Good of Virginia speaks as left to right, Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 13, 2024. All four were among 14 Republicans who voted against emergency defense aid for Israel.

Republican opposition to Israel aid is the latest headache for the pro-Israel community

Published February 14, 2024

  WASHINGTON (JTA) — Since Oct. 7, a growing number of Democrats have called for a ceasefire in Gaza, harshly criticized Israel or refused to send it more money. But increasingly over the past few weeks, when both chambers of Congress...

Gal Cohen-Solal

His family hid from Hamas for 30 hours. He’s coming to St. Louis Sunday to tell you how they survived

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 13, 2024

Following the events of Oct. 7th, misinformation and denial have proliferated, particularly on college campuses across the nation. The "Faces of October Seventh" project was created to combat this by bringing first-hand testimonies of what happened on...

Birthright’s current trips include all the typical highlights of the organization’s tours, including this jeep tour, but also offer opportunities to volunteer and bear witness after Oct. 7. (Oded Antman)

Birthright trippers find visiting Israel during war is a unique and invigorating experience

Elana Sztokman, JTAPublished February 13, 2024

When Alon Fishman visited Israel in early January on a group trip, it wasn’t his first time in the country. But Fishman, 23, had never seen Israel like this before. When his Birthright Israel group arrived at the Western Wall, they found it uncharacteristically...

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