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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

Israel News

Visiting Israel on Birthright in the year and a half since Oct. 7, 2023, many trip participants said they felt safer in Israel than they did back home. (Idan Arad)

Birthright participants say visiting Israel in the post-Oct. 7 era is a transformative experience

By Larry Luxner, JTAPublished April 24, 2025

Maddison Spiegel of Westchester County, New York, had tried for years to go on a Birthright trip to Israel but somehow it never happened. The first time she was supposed to go the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way, freezing all trips. The next time...

Ben Platt attends a discussion of his album "Honeymind" at 92NY on Oct. 9, 2024, in New York City.  (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

Backing fellow Jewish entertainer Hannah Einbinder, Ben Platt says his Jewish identity is ‘not defined’ by Israel

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished April 16, 2025

In his first major public comments about Israel since early in the Gaza war, the Jewish actor Ben Platt said his Jewish identity is not defined by Israel. Platt also voiced support for another Jewish actor, Hannah Einbinder, who has drawn criticism...

Dr. Ayala Hendin and Dr. Mona Khoury.

Is Israel living up to its promise? 5 things to know before this powerful series at Shaare Emeth

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 28, 2025

There’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to Israel. But how often do we slow down and take a hard look at where it all started, where things stand now and what’s possible moving forward? That’s exactly what Congregation Shaare Emeth is inviting...

Sarah Kitchner in Chicago with Birthright.

She’s taking Mizzou students to Israel—here’s why it matters

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 25, 2025

When Sarah Kitchner first traveled to Israel, she knew it wouldn’t be her last visit. Now, as a Birthright Israel Fellow, the Mizzou Hillel educator is preparing to guide Jewish students through the experience. Earlier this month, she joined 81 other...

A Tesla logo is pictured on a car in the rain in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., May 5, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Israel asks Tesla to bid on tender for top officials’ cars

Akiva Van Koningsveld, JNSPublished March 13, 2025

Israel has invited Tesla to submit a bid for an official government electric vehicle tender, a senior Israeli official told JNS. The decision to consider Tesla vehicles for top officials is part of an effort to prioritize high-performance cars, with the...

Children and their teachers and parents dressed up for Purim, some as Batman in honor of the slain Bibas brothers, at the Gabrieli Carmel School in Tel Aviv, March 13, 2025.(Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Children in Israel and beyond are dressing as Batman for Purim to honor the slain Bibas brothers

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 13, 2025

For over a year, an image of the Bibas family in Batman pajamas symbolized the global call for their return from captivity in Gaza. This Purim, children in Israel and beyond are dressing as Batman for Purim to honor Ariel Bibas, the 4-year-old who was...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen before a portrait of Theodor Herzl, known as the "Visionary of the Jewish State" and the founder of modern Zionism in Jerusalem on May 2, 2018.

Voting opens in election for World Zionist Congress, with future of Israel at stake

Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTAPublished March 10, 2025

Voting opens Monday in an election that gives American Jews a rare chance to directly shape the future of Israel. The U.S. election for seats in the 39th World Zionist Congress will help determine the balance of power in the legislative authority of...

John Cleese poses for a picture during a book signing in London, Sept. 10, 2020. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

John Cleese to perform in Israel in June

JNS STAFFPublished March 5, 2025

Legendary British comedian and actor John Cleese, 85, is set to return to Israel for three performances this June in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Famous as a member of Monty Python and for his roles in “Fawlty Towers” and “A Fish Called Wanda,” Cleese’s...

Nani Noam Vazana

Ladino: The lost Jewish language that still sings in St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 25, 2025

For many in the St. Louis Jewish community, the term Ladino might be unfamiliar—but it shouldn’t be. This centuries-old language, a blend of medieval Spanish, Hebrew and other influences from across the Mediterranean, once thrived among Sephardic...

Exploring Israel’s future: What’s next for democracy, gender, and Jewish identity?

Exploring Israel’s future: What’s next for democracy, gender, and Jewish identity?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 20, 2025

For the first time in history, Jewish fundamentalists hold the highest offices in Israel. Their goal? To reshape the country into a theocracy. What does that mean for democracy? What does that mean for American Jews? Dr. Tomer Persico and Yael Yechieli,...

An olive tree named in honor of Dr. Miriam Adelson. Credit: Courtesy/My Tree in Israel Archive Photo.

Fruit of the field: Adopting olive trees in Israel

Etgar Lefkovits, JNSPublished February 19, 2025

MOSHAV HAYOGEV, Israel—The row upon row of pristine olive trees that line the green farmland in this northern Israeli village stretch as far as the eye can see. Olive trees flourish at the agricultural village at Hayogev (meaning “farmer” in Hebrew),...

Dan Winograd

New role for Dan Winograd at NHBZ

Published February 19, 2025

Dan Winograd is the new president of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion board of directors for a two-year term. He is vice president of Finance at Oral Surgery Partners.

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