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

Ohr Chadash Teen Page

Visiting Israel was eye-opening journey

Visiting Israel was eye-opening journey

By Avital Vorobeychik Junior, Epstein Hebrew Academy/Kadimah High SchoolPublished February 21, 2024

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to visit Israel. Even before visiting, I knew that one day I would want to live there. Something about the fact that there’s a place that’s specifically meant for us, the Jewish people, always stood out...

Hamas weaponry confiscated and displayed by the Israel Defense Forces, Oct. 15, 2023. Credit: IDF.

Getting the facts is critical in understanding conflict with Hamas

By Ryan Snyder, Junior, Ladue Horton Watkins High SchoolPublished December 6, 2023

The day of Oct. 7th was one that did not play out how I expected. What started off as a normal day for me as Jewish high schooler was flipped on its head when I awoke to the news that Israel was under attack and at war. It took a while for me to assess...

Holocaust survivor Sami Stiegmann speaks in St. Louis in late October during a Jewish Student Union event.

Students welcome Holocaust survivor for moving Q&A

By Bella Soyfer, Junior, Ladue Horton Watkins High SchoolPublished December 6, 2023

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, motivational speaker and Holocaust survivor Sami Stiegmann visited St. Louis to speak to students and teachers at Ladue Middle School and Ladue Horton Watkins High School.  The event at the high school was in a question-and-answer...

An image from the Nov. 14 Israel rally in Washington, D.C.

Young St. Louisans join in history-making rally

By Daniel Shanker, Junior, Epstein Hebrew Academy-Kadimah High School Published December 6, 2023

On Nov. 14, an estimated 300,000 Jews traveled to Washington, D.C. to support Israel in its war against Hamas, and to condemn Hamas’ egregious attack on Jews—particularly, the kidnapping of Israeli citizens. The national mall was packed—there was...

Alissa Barnholtz

Fight with Hamas is about basic human rights

By Alissa Barnholtz, Senior, Parkway Central High School.Published October 18, 2023

I can’t stay quiet anymore.  I am proud to be Jewish. I am scared to be Jewish. I am highly aware that I’m not an expert on this topic, but I do know that what happened at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 in Israel was an act of terrorism. More than 4,400...

A child holding a toy gun was one of tens of thousands who attended a mass rally in Gaza City to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hamas founding, Dec. 14, 2010. Exchanges of fire between Hamas and Israel have escalated in recent weeks. (Wissam Nassar / Flash90 / JTA)

Hamas apologists are ignorant, inaccurate and antisemitic

BY NATHAN ARST, Senior, Parkway Central High School.Published October 18, 2023

The Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7 changed Israel and the world forever. An astounding 1,300 people were killed in a brutal rampage that murdered more Jews in a single day since the Holocaust.  As soon as I heard about the attacks, I reached out...

Mitzvah stands provided inspiration for Maccabi athletes, but what are they?

‘Mitzvah stands’ provided inspiration for Maccabi athletes, but what are they?

By Daniel Shanker, Junior, Epstein Hebrew Academy/Yeshivat Kadimah High SchoolPublished August 17, 2023

The Maccabi games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were consumed by heated competition. But don’t let that deceive you—no Jewish event would be complete without an opportunity to engage religiously, as well as competitively. “This is our ,” said Rabbi...

College Application

University of Penn alumnus shares advice for today’s college applicants

Ariella Fellman, Junior, Ladue Horton Watkins High SchoolPublished May 24, 2023

He’s an attorney, a cantor, a substitute teacher, an occasional television host and chairman of the secondary school committee of the University of Pennsylvania for eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. An outgoing personality with a zest for education,...

Molly Levine

Journalism remains the constant as Molly Levine heads to Mizzou

Molly Levine, Senior, Marquette High SchoolPublished May 24, 2023

The Jewish Light has always held a special place in my heart. For as long as I can remember, my family has stacked piles of Jewish Light newspapers on our living room coffee table. I fondly remember flipping through issues, completely absorbed by the...

Why people of all ages should seek to understand different communities

Why people of all ages should seek to understand different communities

Bella Soyfer, Sophomore, Ladue Horton Watkins High SchoolPublished May 24, 2023

When given the opportunity to expose themselves to cultures outside their own, some people may be uninterested, questioning why they should care. The simple answer is this: learning about other cultures helps to build an understanding of people around...

Rabbi Yosef David (left)  and Nissim Black.

Clean Speech initiative shows the power of positivity

By Daniel Shanker Sophomore, Yeshivat Kadimah High SchoolPublished April 19, 2023

“The Torah and the Talmud teach us that hurtful speech is worse than cheating someone out of money,” said Rabbi Yosef David, executive director of Aish HaTorah of St. Louis. “If you cheat somebody financially, you can pay it back, but if you cheat...

How Jewish students make varying school times work for success

How Jewish students make varying school times work for success

By Avital Vorobeychik, Sophomore, Yeshivat Kadimah High SchoolPublished April 19, 2023

Every school and every student have their own schedule for the day. Sometimes those schedules vary on a day-to day-basis, or an every-other-day, while some school schedules look the same every day. Depending on the school, a regular day can start at 7:30...

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