When I was growing up in Memphis, a family pastime in December was driving around the city looking at houses known for their dazzling Christmas displays.  Although mom and dad would never have considered having a Christmas tree, wreath or any other yuletide...

The 2024 U.S. presidential election elicited a spectrum of reactions across the nation. Many rejoiced, expressing optimism, gratitude and happiness. For others, the outcome was met with disappointment, concern and fear about the direction of the country. ...

This article initially appeared in My Jewish Learning’s Shabbat newsletter Recharge. To sign up to receive Recharge each week in your inbox, click here. This Shabbat, like every Shabbat, synagogues around the world will pray for the welfare of their...

This is not a happy story, but it is one of truth. Three years ago, our 15-year-old grandson Noah Arnold was hit by a car in Beverly Hills, Calif. and ultimately died from his injuries. I never believed that lightening could or would strike twice but...

Kids, these days. No one knows what they’re talking about! It’s probably the same stuff we talked about when we were young but with new words.  Remember being young, when you didn’t have back pain and went out for the evening at 10 p.m.? Those...

This is an adaptation of our editor-in-chief’s weekly newsletter. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox on Friday afternoons. At a Jewish conference in Chicago last month, I picked up a T-shirt for the husband with a single word on it:...

“I do not believe that the Israelis and the Palestinians have achieved peace, nor do I believe that this will mark an end to the blood and tears,” the 20-year-old student argued in a 1993 op-ed in his college paper. This wasn’t a popular view at...

As members of the St. Louis Jewish community, we are compelled to respond to a recent letter by some area Rabbis that mischaracterizes the record of Congresswoman Cori Bush. Bush is a supporter of peace and as a co-sponsor of Representative Haley Steven’s...

What would Vivian do?  Vivian Zwick was a pillar of the pro-choice and the Jewish community of St. Louis. She was the first woman elected as the president of the Jewish Light Board of Trusteess in 1975 (Jewish Light Aug. 10, 2022). I met her at several...

Yes, unfortunately, there is still racism in America. There will probably always be a degree of racism in America, as there is in virtually every country on earth. It is almost impossible to rid the United States and any other nation of the last bigot.  Still,...

With a month to go until the MO-01 primary, we, rabbis and cantors from across the Jewish spectrum, write once again, in our personal, private capacities, with a clear and unified message: Let’s get Wesley Bell to Washington. It’s time for our...