In a Sept. 3 letter to the editor, Rabbi Emeritus Mark Shook responded to an op-ed of mine published in the Light and accused me of suggesting that “when the going gets tough for Jews in America, the Jews are supposed to just up and leave the problems...

My family has been members of the Jewish Community Center (the J) since 1971. I’ve been a fitness club member since the 1980s.  I’ve noticed many contemporaries have decided not to renew their memberships because of other lower cost gyms. We have...

Readers respond to rabbi’s commentary The April 2 edition contains a deeply disturbing commentary (“Should illegal immigrants be deported?”) by Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, in which he begins with a highly misleading metaphor for people he refers to as...

Seeking community’s support  As we near the celebration of Passover, we thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you and for helping our community thrive.  The St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association (STLRCA) is the only clergy organization...

Embrace our Judaism In response to the question asked by the article “Can science finally stop antisemitism?” (online, Jan. 6), the answer is of course, No. Trying to educate people out of their hostility to Jews will never work, it cannot work....

Readers respond to recent d’var Torah Rabbi James Bennett’s recent commentary (“Can we change history by thinking before we speak or act,” Dec. 18 edition) is an important conversation-starter about the limits of Jewish communal discourse. I...

Praise for rabbi’s recent commentaries We are very impressed with the articles that Rabbi Ze’ev Smason submits to the Jewish Light. He always sheds a light on the truth and shares his exemplary wisdom to the Jewish people. We always look forward...