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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

Jewish fraternity raises $207,000 for cancer research

Jewish fraternity raises $207,000 for cancer research

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 29, 2025

The brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Missouri are still rocking—and breaking records. AEPi recently wrapped up its 2025 Rock-A-Thon, raising a record-setting $207,000 for pancreatic cancer research through the American Cancer...

New Yiddish library launches, includes rare St. Louis treasures

New Yiddish library launches, includes rare St. Louis treasures

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 29, 2025

Many of us—me included—are fascinated by Yiddish. For the past few years, I’ve celebrated that fascination with a recurring bit I call “Funny Yiddish Things My Bubbe Would Say,” a love letter to the language’s mysticism, humor and bite. But...

Neshama Carlebach

“Am Yisrael Chai” lives on in St. Louis: A Carlebach concert for today’s world

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 27, 2025

Award-winning Jewish singer Neshama Carlebach is heading to St. Louis for a concert that hits all the right notes—soulful, spiritual and unmistakably communal. On Aug. 17, she’ll close out Kol Rinah’s SummerFest 2025 with a public performance at...

Kevin Lee

A familiar face steps into a new role at local Jewish school

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 26, 2025

Temple Emanuel has announced Kevin Lee as the new assistant director of its religious school, expanding the leadership team ahead of the 2025 school year. A longtime Jewish educator and community member, Lee will continue teaching while also guiding curriculum...

Hedwig Strnad designed dresses to escape the Nazis. Now they're on display in St. Louis.

Hedwig Strnad designed dresses to escape the Nazis. Now they’re on display in St. Louis.

Published June 26, 2025

This summer, the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum will present “Stitching History from the Holocaust,” a moving exhibition that brings attention to the life and work of Hedwig Strnad, a Jewish fashion designer from Prague whose promising...

It’s not summer until you shvitz: A love letter to my favorite Yiddish word

It’s not summer until you shvitz: A love letter to my favorite Yiddish word

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 25, 2025

A few readers have pointed out that I’ve been using the word shvitz quite a bit lately in Bubbe’s Forecast. And yes — I have. Guilty. I’m not just using it — I’m clinging to it like the sticky, heavy brewery t-shirts I wear to the office each...

The 2024 Unsung Heroes are (clockwise from top left) Rachel Sanger, Sharon Weissman, Barb and Rich Kramer, Wendy Flusser, Linda Sandmel, Ken Weintraub, Ellen Schapiro, Hillary Friedman, Ram Lakshmanan and Peggy Cohen Voss.

Deadline approaching to nominate Unsung Heros in community

Published June 25, 2025

Now in its 16th year, the Unsung Heroes awards celebrate volunteers making a meaningful difference in the community without seeking the spotlight. Nominations are currently open, with a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday, June 27. Submissions can be made online...

How an Olivette couple helped 100+ Jews find love—with a camera and a cause

How an Olivette couple helped 100+ Jews find love—with a camera and a cause

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 25, 2025

Before dating apps and endless swiping, St. Louis had the Jewish Photo Dating Service—a low-tech matchmaking effort that launched in the early 1980s. It brought hundreds of local singles together and led to dozens of lasting relationships. After we...

St. Louis Cardinals mascot Fredbird before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Fredbird’s hall of fame moment has Marty Hendin written all over it

By Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 25, 2025

Fredbird, the most famous red bird in St. Louis and the forever face of the St. Louis Cardinals, was officially inducted into the online Mascot Hall of Fame on June 17 – beating out dozens of competitors -- he joined an elite roster of baseball’s...

Mont Levy congratulated Jenny Hoffman-Mentle upon completion of the Levy Fellows, Jewish Federation's board development program.

Inside the quiet network shaping Jewish boardrooms across St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 25, 2025

Jewish boards don’t just manage—they make the calls that shape congregations, schools and in many cases, the direction of Jewish life. But how do new leaders learn to navigate the responsibilities—and politics—that come with a seat at the table?...

Teleo Coffee in Kirkwood

Kirkwood’s Teleo joins the boil-and-bake elite

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished June 24, 2025

If you’ve been reading the Jewish Light for any length of time, you know one thing’s certain: we are unapologetically obsessed with bagels. We’ve tracked down every place in St. Louis that boils, bakes or even dares to attempt a decent shmear. So...

Jordan Palmer and Jewish Light Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman

Jewish Light wins five Rockower Awards for excellence in Jewish journalism

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished June 24, 2025

The St. Louis Jewish Light received five awards for excellence in journalism during the American Jewish Press Association’s annual conference in Pittsburgh, Penn. The 44th annual Simon Rockower Awards for work completed in 2024 were presented on June...

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