The kidnapping of the three Israeli teens in June began a period of crisis that continues into the present. The response of the St. Louis Jewish community to the crises has been extensive and sustained. Rabbis have brought focus to the situations from...

Last Tuesday evening, we gathered together to show our solidarity with Israel. Hundreds and hundreds of people showed up to deliver the clear message that we as a community support the people of Israel in this time of need. To repeat some of what I said...

Senator thanked for support of IsraelIt was distressing to read about recent anti-Semitic attacks in France and other European countries. Also troubling were the reports of anti-Semitic incidents in Chicago, here in Frontenac, and even at a rally in the...

Media critiqueDouble and triple kudos to Robert Cohn, editor emeritus, for his excellent comments on the remarks by the NBC Network (July 9 commentary, “Biased reporting from Jerusalem on NBC News”).The biased reporting from Jerusalem, expounding...

Learning from St. Louis staging of  ‘Klinghoffer’The decision of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City to stage John Adams’ opera, “The Death of Klinghoffer,” has revived the discussion that arose when Opera Theatre of St. Louis staged that...

The Presbyterian Church voted 310-303 to divest stocks from corporations that do business with Israel because of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the Presbyterians...

Sensible gun lawsState Rep. Stacey Newman’s June 11 commentary about how anti-Semitism and sexism fuel the climate for hate and irrational behavior is insightful. Her comments that lawmakers refuse to take up her two-year-old bill on background checks...

Abbas’  hypocrisy[Regarding the April 30 editorial, “PA System Failure”]  The fact that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the Holocaust “the most heinous crime” of modern history was the height of hypocrisy.This is the same...

Spreading awarenessWe were thrilled to see the May 14 article in the Light about the genetic impact of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations and their relationship to breast and ovarian cancers.  We would like your readers to know what St. Louis Ovarian Cancer...

Is Islamophobia widespread?Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”Give us your opinion, but support them with facts. The Jewish Light editorial last week included the following  statement:...

Judaism’s big tentDaniel Movitz’s letter to the editor April 23 envisions a Jewish community simply defined by a few movements. The Jewish community that Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionism, envisioned in his writing and teaching,...

Standing together as one Jewish communityI am writing to my fellow Jewish people in the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox communities. As a proud Conservative Jew, I received an education from Solomon Schechter Day School while I was growing up. I was...