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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

Local news

Or Garti takes a selfie with her campers at Camp Ben Frankel.

From war zones to bunk beds: Camp Ben Frankel hosting 50 Israeli kids this summer—thanks to St. Louis donors

By Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished May 5, 2025

Camp Ben Frankel is hoping to welcome up to 50 Israeli children this summer, up from the 18 it hosted last summer, thanks to a fundraising campaign that has drawn strong support from the St. Louis Jewish community and beyond, as well as funding from Jewish...

David Cohen

New JCRC leader addresses antisemitism in Affton and outlines bold vision for community ties

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished May 4, 2025

David Cohen, who assumed the role executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis, officially stepped into his new position on March 31 and he has already become fully engaged in the St. Louis Jewish community. Cohen...

Yael Sabin

Ladue lacrosse standout Yael Sabin to join Team Israel after record-breaking high school career

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished May 4, 2025

When an opposing goalie sees Yael Sabin approaching, it’s usually too late to react. The Jewish star midfielder for the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Rams will seize the opportunity to score yet another goal. Sabin, 18, has already amassed...

Myles Rosenblum.

After two years in Israel’s paratroopers, Myles Rosenblum comes home with a story to tell

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 4, 2025

Myles Rosenblum, a 23-year-old IDF lone soldier from St. Louis, is returning home after two transformative years in the Israel Defense Forces. Serving in Israel’s elite Paratroopers Unit 101, Rosenblum’s journey—from intense combat training to frontline...

Photo gallery: Israel Independence Day celebration

Photo gallery: Israel Independence Day celebration

Bill MotchanPublished May 3, 2025

Israeli flags, T-shirs and temporary tattoos appeared in abundance at the St. Louis Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration at the JCC on Thurs., May 1. Nearly 500 community members gathered for food, wine, music, Israeli dance, and crafts....

Untitled (car on road),” c.1952,

What these four Jewish photographers saw on the road says everything about America

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 1, 2025

Growing up in the 1970s, if my family was going on vacation, it meant we were taking a road trip. Funny to think about it now, but we didn’t call it a road trip back then—it was just a trip. A backseat packed with pillows, a cooler full of Shasta,...

From UCity, he sends one short email every Friday—and it’s helping people rediscover Shabbat

From UCity, he sends one short email every Friday—and it’s helping people rediscover Shabbat

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 1, 2025

When Rob Wasserman decided to take his junior year abroad from the University of California, Santa Barbara—and switched his destination from Sweden to Israel—he wasn’t searching for a spiritual transformation. But a spiritual transformation found...

A decade of Shabbat, sufganiyot and showing up: Maryville Hillel turns 10

A decade of Shabbat, sufganiyot and showing up: Maryville Hillel turns 10

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 1, 2025

Maryville Hillel is turning 10 this year, and while there will be celebration, the milestone also marks something deeper: a decade of building Jewish community on campus, sharing traditions and giving students—Jewish and not—a space to learn, connect...

Rabbi Randy Fleisher, nicknamed “Dylan,” with a cool, tassled jacket, a guitar and a head full of curls that made him look like Bob Dylan.

From campfires to CRC: Rabbi Randy marks 25 years of connection and community

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 30, 2025

This year, Rabbi Randy Fleisher and Central Reform Congregation are marking a trio of 25-year milestones. Today, May 1, Fleisher will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New...

St. Louis community gathers to honor Israel’s fallen

St. Louis community gathers to honor Israel’s fallen

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished April 30, 2025

A solemn gathering of 300 community members commemorated Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) at the JCC on Tuesday evening, April 29. The ceremony consisted of readings and poems in Hebrew and English, a torch lighting, and a one-minute siren....

This St. Louis native made a Jewish indie anthem with her bubbe—and it’s beautiful

This St. Louis native made a Jewish indie anthem with her bubbe—and it’s beautiful

By Evelyn Frick, ‘Hey Alma’Published April 30, 2025

Originally published April 28, 2025 by "Hey Alma" via JTA St. Louis was first introduced to Allison Becker and her band Wetsuit back in 2023, when the Jewish Light reported on her viral “Hora do-over” music video. That project, which transformed...

Wally Rosen in uniform in 1942, and the record he recorded for his family in 1943.

A lost voice, a found family and a record coming home: A Jewish Light story closes the circle

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 30, 2025

After 82 years, a forgotten WWII recording is heading back to Wally Rosen’s family Sometimes, the reason for storytelling really pays off. When we first reported the story of a lost 1943 phonograph record—discovered by legendary broadcaster John...

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