Thanking the CedarsI want to thank the Cedars at the JCA for providing a wonderful holiday experience for its Jewish residents.The services were meaningful, and it was good to have Howard Shalowitz as cantor for the Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrations....

Merged day school's policy on kashrutA Nov. 2 letter to the editor asserts that the new Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School has no kashrut policy. We would like to correct this misperception and explain our approach to the merger process.When a Reform...

Support for State RepFor those of us who live in Olivette, University City and Overland, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is an important election day, even though there's only one contest on the ballot: an election for the next State Representative in the 83rd District.Tracy...

Disappointing turnout from community Since 1999 the Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI) has planted trees in the St. Louis Metro area, based on the vision of Alfred Kahn (z'l'), with the goal of planting 60,000 trees-the number Jews living in St. Louis...

Maintaining Jewish focus We are subscribers and have been reading the Light eagerly for many years. Occasionally, however, we find something in the Light totally inappropriate, such as a veterinary column ("Ask Dr. Doug," Oct. 5). We also subscribe to...

D'var Torah response receives its own critiqueThe Oct. 5 commentary, "Torah portion deserves critical examination,"  David A. Rubin writes, "I was disappointed by the Sept. 14, 2011 D'var Torah. Rabbi James Stone Goodman's prose was certainly interesting,...

Thank you to St. Louis for community's letters to IDFEditor's note: The following letter was addressed to the members of the community who wrote letters to Israeli soldiers during the Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebration at the Jewish Community Center this summer....

Fall arts guide cover With Carlos Santana, under pro-Palestinian pressure, cancelling his performance in Israel, why are you promoting his appearance in St. Louis on the front cover of the Fall Arts Guide (Aug. 31)? Sandy Salz Overland Park, Kan. Praise...

Comparing bris milah and ‘bris shalom'The article in the Aug. 10 issue about "bris shalom," the non-cutting ritual done in place of a bris milah (ritual circumcision), reminded me of a story I heard years ago from a good friend who served in the Navy...

Keep Block Yeshiva on the Millstone Campus I was extremely pleased to read the letter about Block Yeshiva High School (June 15) and I completely agree with the sentiments expressed in it. As a graduate of the school, I can attest to the impact the school...

Delta and Saudi Arabia Although not surprising, I obviously find it distasteful and aggravating that the Saudi government chooses to restrict the entry into their country of Jews and those with Israeli passports. Unfortunately, there is little I can do...

Can We Talk? series draws responsesIn the op-ed piece by Karen Aroesty (June 8), she concludes, "Terrorism can never be justified, even when cloaked in the respectability of artistic license." I absolutely agree.However, after seeing the dress rehearsal...