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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

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Darius Milhaud (Milken Archive of Jewish Music) and Vally Weigl (Karl Weigl Foundation)

They fled the Nazis, but their music survived—and now it’s coming to St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 21, 2025

On Sunday, May 25, the St. Louis Chamber Chorus will present a powerful and poignant concert titled “War and Peace,” featuring the works of Jewish composers Darius Milhaud and Vally Weigl. The concert...

Performance artist Tim Youd and Stanley Lawrence Elkin (May 11, 1930-May 31, 1995) an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist.

He types. He reads. He doesn’t sleep. And it’s all for legendary Jewish St. Louis author, Stanley Elkin

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 21, 2025

Most performance art doesn’t come with a built-in clackety-clack soundtrack, but this one does—live, every night through May 1, on Washington University’s KWUR 90.3 FM. That’s because Los Angeles-based...

From silence to singing: How St. Louis honors Israel’s most powerful week

From silence to singing: How St. Louis honors Israel’s most powerful week

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished April 21, 2025

The Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex in Creve Coeur will host free events on April 29 and May 1 commemorating Israel’s Memorial Day and Israel Independence Day. Yom Hazikaron is...

Why this season’s biggest cleanup might start inside you

Why this season’s biggest cleanup might start inside you

By Amy Fenster Brown, Special To The Jewish LightPublished April 21, 2025

Weird weather and its accompanying annoying allergies. It’s time to do some spring cleaning. Not just in your house, but also in your soul. There’s a lot of heavy stuff built up in there, and this...

Almog Dadia and  Sydney Lefton

From Camp Sabra to Tel Aviv—this love story is heading to the chuppah

Published April 21, 2025

Sydney Lefton and Almog Dadia have announced their engagement.  Sydney is the daughter of Debbie and Mike Lefton of St. Louis. She is the granddaughter of Sue and Mark Koritz of St. Louis, and the late...

Welcome to the world, Max Isacc Lieberman

Welcome to the world, Max Isacc Lieberman

Published April 21, 2025

Elizabeth and David Lieberman would like to announce the birth of their son, Max Isaac Lieberman, on Feb. 18, 2025 in St. Louis, weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Max is the grandson of Susan and Mike Gartenberg,...

Samuel Rehbein

Simcha in St. Louis: He became a bar mitzvah and cleared out invasive honeysuckle, too

Published April 21, 2025

Samuel Rehbein (Simcha Chaim), son of Chris and Aryn Rehbein of St. Louis, became a bar mitzvah in March at Central Reform Congregation.  Samuel is the grandson of Brice and Ilene Bloom-Ellis of St....

Pope Francis meets with Hispanic Jewish leaders from Argentina, Spain and the United States at the Vatican on Aug. 22 2019. (Courtesy of Hispanic Jewish Foundation)

Pope Francis, a champion of Jewish-Catholic dialogue, dies at 88

Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTAPublished April 21, 2025

Pope Francis, who significantly advanced the Catholic Church’s relationship with Jews and Israel by actively promoting dialogue, reconciliation and a strong stance against antisemitism, died Monday,...

NCJWSTL’s next Coffee Talk brews up nostalgia for Frank & Helen's, Tony's and Imo's

NCJWSTL’s next Coffee Talk brews up nostalgia for Frank & Helen’s, Tony’s and Imo’s

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 20, 2025

NCJWSTL’s next Coffee Talk is serving a slice of St. Louis restaurant history—topped with broasted chicken, dough balls and a side of pizza pride. The guest this time is Dr. Harley Hammerman, whose...

They came for surgery. They stayed for survival.

They came for surgery. They stayed for survival.

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished April 18, 2025

Parents will do whatever is necessary to help their children thrive. That’s especially true for Harel and Raya Avrutsky. They created a loving home for their daughter Carmi and son Beeri.  There was...

Chesterfield Chabad starting new teen leadership chapter

Chesterfield Chabad starting new teen leadership chapter

Published April 18, 2025

Chabad of Chesterfield is accepting applications for the Solomon Leadership Program chapter in Chesterfield. This initiative aims to cultivate leadership skills, foster community involvement and inspire...

John Pertzborn with the USO record featuring Wally Rosen.

His voice reached St. Louis in 1943 on a record. Now, thanks to John Pertzborn, it’s being heard again.

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 18, 2025

John Pertzborn is no stranger to good stories. The legendary St. Louis broadcaster—best known for his long-running "Pertzborn’s People" segment on KSDK-TV in the 1980s and '90s and as co-anchor of...

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