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

News

Ori Megidish, center, poses with her family after her rescue from the Gaza Strip, Oct. 30, 2023. (Israel Security Agency)

Israeli forces rescue kidnapped soldier

Ron Kampeas, JTA • Published October 30, 2023

(JTA) — Israeli forces rescued an Israeli soldier from the Gaza Strip, the first such successful operation since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, and the first since the terror group assumed control of...

Noya Dan, seen here in a Harry Potter costume, was murdered by Hamas alongside her grandmother Carmela on Oct. 7, 2023, in Kibbutz Nir Oz. (via X)

A young Harry Potter fan’s murder reverberates from Israel to Boston

Penny Schwartz, JTA • Published October 29, 2023

BOSTON (JTA) — Jason Greenberg remembers the lavish breakfast spreads Carmela Dan would serve when he and his family visited his great aunt at Kibbutz Nir Oz. He relished the shakshuka, salads and bread...

Terror victims arrive at the forensic center in the Shura military base near Ramle, where identification of the deceased and the work of Israel’s Jewish burial societies begins.

The painful, painstaking work of Israel’s Burial Societies

By Menachem Posner, Chabad.org/news • Published October 29, 2023

Menachem Levy says he is “used to death.” A member of Tel Aviv’s chevra kadisha (“sacred society”), he is among a relatively small number of experts in Israel responsible for preparing tens...

An antisemitic mob at Makhachkala Uytash Airport in Russia's Dagestan Republic, Oct. 29, 2023. Source: Screenshot.

Flight from Israel diverted as Muslim mob storms airport in Dagestan

Published October 29, 2023

A flight from Tel Aviv to Russia's Dagestan Republic was forced to redirect on Sunday after pro-Hamas rioters stormed Makhachkala Uytash Airport, seeking to lynch Jewish travelers. Hundreds of people...

Jewish teens from across the country shared their thoughts and views on the Israel-Hamas war. (Design by Grace Yagel)

Sad, scared, proud, alone: How St. Louis Jewish teens, others are feeling amid the Israel-Hamas war

Lydia Ettinger, Ty Faulkner Branum, Ami Gelman, Zoe Klevens, Oliver Mason and Abigail Rubinstein, JTA • Published October 29, 2023

(JTA) — Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 was thousands of miles away for Jewish teens in the United States — yet they have found themselves caught in a crossfire of opinions, misinformation...

Martin Fletcher.

NBC News Correspondent to talk about Israel-Hamas War at St. Louis Jewish Book Festival 

Published October 29, 2023

The war in Israel has been at the top of mind since it began on October 7, when the terrorist organization Hamas brutally attacked Israel and committed horrific atrocities that has led to so much suffering...

Israel Air Force strikes on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, Oct. 28, 2023.

IDF ground incursion into Gaza expanding

Published October 28, 2023

Israel Defense Forces ground forces that entered northern Gaza on Friday night remained there on Saturday, marking what appears to be the start of the Israeli ground offensive, as opposed to earlier brief...

Tehilla and Elisheva Raskas make challah dough during the Great Big Challah Bake of St. Louis on Nov. 10 at the Clayton Plaza Hotel. The event drew close to 500 people.

Annual ‘Great Big Challah Bake’ goes blue to support Israel

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer • Published October 26, 2023

Shabbat has long been an occasion to reconnect with ourselves, our families and our community. And nothing embodies the Shabbat table more than delicious fresh baked challah. Baking challah can...

JFed launching 'Blue Ribbons For Israel' unity campaign

JFed launching ‘Blue Ribbons For Israel’ unity campaign

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer • Published October 26, 2023

In addition to its current  Israel Emergency Fund to provide services, support and hope for friends and family in Israel, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis is launching a "Blue Ribbons for Israel" campaign...

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, on the left, hands the gavel to newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, after the House of Representatives held an election in the U.S. Capitol, Oct. 25, 2023.

House votes 412-10 to overwhelmingly pass resolution condemning Hamas

Ron Kampeas, JTA • Published October 25, 2023

WASHINGTON (JTA) — In its first action under its new speaker, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the deadly invasion of Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, which launched Israel’s current...

Mustaches at the ready. Photo courtesy of the Israel Defense Forces

In the face of war, reserve soldiers grow mustaches

By Naama Barak, Israel 21c • Published October 25, 2023

In difficult times, people respond in all sorts of unexpected ways – hence the unusual trend of  soldiers called up for reserve duty growing dubious facial hair in the form of scraggly mustaches. @hamalachim...

Noa Tishby

L’Chaim 2023 featuring Noa Tishby is sold out, but you must hear her amazing speech from last week

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer • Published October 25, 2023

The good news; The Jewish Federation of St. Louis' Women’s Philanthropy, the organizers of L’Chaim 2023, say the event on Thursday night at the Ritz-Carlton is completely sold out. The bad news; if...

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