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

A long exposure picture shows Iron Dome firing interception missiles, as seen from the southern Israeli city of Ashdod on May 16, 2021. Photo by Avi Roccah/Flash90

Everything you need to know about Israel’s Iron Dome

By Naama Barak, Israel21cPublished April 17, 2024

The current round of violence between Israel and Iran, as well as Hamas in the Gaza Strip erupted with a literal boom as rockets and drones were fired from Iran toward Israel. They set off rocket attack sirens that have become the soundtrack of the...

Iron dome anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from Lebanon, as it seen over the Hula Valley, April 12, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

Iran launches dozens of drones at Israel, risking an escalation in the Israel-Hamas war

RON KAMPEAS, JTAPublished April 13, 2024

(JTA) — Iran launched dozens of drones at Israel, a gambit that may be aimed at swarming Israel’s air defenses. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was ready to strike back, portending an escalation in the Israel-Hamas war. “We...

A general view of the Al Jazeera logo during day two of Web Summit Qatar 2024 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, Feb. 28, 2024. in Doha, Qatar. (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile for Web Summit Qatar via Getty Images)

White House worries as Netanyahu plans Al Jazeera closure

Published April 1, 2024

(JTA) — The Biden White House said it was “concerning” that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to close down the Israeli offices of the Al Jazeera, based on a law just passed by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. Netanyahu, posting...

U.S. Defense Secretary Austin Meets With Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant At The Pentagon, March 26, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant emphasizes importance of US-Israel ties during DC visit

Ron Kampeas, JTAPublished March 27, 2024

WASHINGTON (JTA) — On Tuesday, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu accused the United States of failing to defend Israel on the world stage, his defense minister was in Washington emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Israeli alliance. “The...

Michael Golden, founder of Jewdicious.

Meet the ‘Tribe Scribe’ at Jewdicious, the new digital hub for Jewish voices

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 27, 2024

In today's digital landscape, where anyone can publish with the touch of a keystroke, standing out poses a significant challenge. However, a new digital publication called “Jewdicious” is confident that its 18 Jewish columnists can carve out a distinctive...

Howard Kohr, CEO of AIPAC, testifies before the House Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C. March 12, 2019. (Astrid Riecken/Getty Images)

Howard Kohr, longtime AIPAC director, announces retirement

RON KAMPEAS, JTAPublished March 27, 2024

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Howard Kohr, the CEO who has led the powerhouse American Israel Public Affairs Committee since 1996, is set to retire by the end of this year. Under Kohr’s leadership, AIPAC has traversed five presidencies and more than 10 Israeli...

In Israel and beyond, Purim celebrations are tempered by trauma and thoughts of the hostages

In Israel and beyond, Purim celebrations are tempered by trauma and thoughts of the hostages

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 25, 2024

(JTA) — In Jerusalem, a service omitted the loud noise-making associated with the holiday in order to accommodate soldiers traumatized by months of war. In Tel Aviv, bakeries peddled a triangular treat renamed for a contemporary villain, the leader...

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....

Load More Stories