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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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The cattle car that is the "No Hate Now" exhibit.

Immersive Holocaust cattle car exhibit coming to St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 7, 2025

The door closes behind you, and suddenly, you're in the dark. The air is still. A cold floor beneath you. Around you, shadows flicker—portraits of people once packed inside this very kind of railcar. Some clutch children. Some look out, searching for...

Israel’s flag football sets its sights on 2028 Olympics in L.A.

Israel’s flag football sets its sights on 2028 Olympics in L.A.

David Wiseman, JNSPublished July 7, 2025

(JNS) -- The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will feature several sports that appeal to American audiences, including baseball, softball, lacrosse and flag football. With a thriving American football scene in the Holy Land, the Israeli National Flag Football...

Jen Newmark  and Samantha Fomera

Two new Jewish leaders bring fresh energy to St. Louis roles

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 7, 2025

United Hebrew new staff announcements include two familiar faces in new roles. Samantha Fomera and Jen Newmark bring a mix of Jewish communal experience and fresh energy to their leadership positions at United Hebrew Congregation. From youth education...

1928 Citroën B14 Coupe

Art Museum goes full throttle with hidden Jewish stories and after-hours nights

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 6, 2025

One of the more fun stories to tell are the ones where we find a Jewish link—or in this case, multiple Jewish links—hidden inside a major public event. These are the stories that surprise even the most plugged-in members of our community. At the Jewish...

 Conservative Judaism has been trying to chart a middle path between Jewish tradition and acceptance of the reality of interfaith families. (Stock photo/Burke/Triolo Productions via Getty Images)

In a first for Conservative Judaism, synagogue allows clergy to participate in interfaith weddings

Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTAPublished July 6, 2025

(JTA) -- A Conservative synagogue in Minnesota has become the first in its denomination to allow its clergy to participate in — but not officiate — weddings of Jews who marry outside their faith. Rabbis and cantors at Adath Jeshurun Congregation,...

Daniella, Karina,Naama,Agam and Liri.

Real life meets “Fauda” as released hostages visit filming

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 6, 2025

We first learned about it through a tweet. On July 1, “Fauda” co-creator Avi Issacharoff posted a photo from the set of the Israeli TV series, showing five young, smiling women who, not long ago, were in Hamas captivity. The caption: “We have the...

Rachael Sage.

Chutzpah and chords: Jewish pop artist Rachael Sage comes to St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 6, 2025

Singer/songwriter Rachael Sage has spent decades cultivating a career in the arts—and now, she’s bringing her music to St. Louis. Known for blending Jewish identity with alt-pop storytelling, Sage, a Billboard-charting artist will debut music from...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump speak during a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington, DC.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Gaza ceasefire deal gaining momentum, U.S. and third parties signal

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished July 4, 2025

(JTA) — Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be gaining momentum Thursday, with Hamas reportedly signalling satisfaction with assurances outlined in a Washington-backed proposal. The proposal comes as Israeli Prime Minister...

John Cusack au festival de Cannes, May 2014. Credit: Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons.

St. Louis-bound actor John Cusack defends Iran’s right to nukes

JNS, StaffPublished July 2, 2025

(JNS) -- Actor John Cusack, known for his anti-Israel views, said Iran should have access to nuclear weapons to combat the United States and Israel, Fox News reported on Wednesday. He said that roughly one week after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered...

The St. Louis delegation included Michael Lourie, vice president of public affairs; and former Missouri State Rep. Stacey Newman; Dan Friedman and Patty Bloom, board members.

St. Louis delegation goes to D.C. to fight for Jewish security

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 2, 2025

Last week, members of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for Jewish community security amid rising threats and stalled federal funding. They joined nearly 400 Jewish leaders from more than 100 communities nationwide...

When Temple B’nai Israel in White Oak, Pennsylvania closed down in 2025, Rabbi Howie Stein buried the remaining yahrzeit plaques and other Jewish objects at the synagogue’s cemetery. Photo by Debbie Iszauk

Why Jews bury books like they bury the dead

By Rabbi Daniel CohenPublished July 1, 2025

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. For many years,  I’ve stood with members of my congregation in our cemetery — not to bury a person, but to bury books. There...

Michael Staenberg and Israeli journalist and intelligence expert Ronen Bergman.

A look back—and forward—from JFed St. Louis’ Men’s Event

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 1, 2025

I love my wife. I love my dogs. I even like my kids. But sometimes you just need to hang out with a bunch of dudes. That’s what the 2nd Annual Men’s Event from Jewish Federation of St. Louis was all about. Nearly 500 Jewish men, from multiple...

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