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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

Opinion

Letters To The Editor

Letters To The Editor

Published December 18, 2024

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...

Are we repeating biblical mistakes? Lessons from Joseph’s pit of betrayal.

Are we repeating biblical mistakes? Lessons from Joseph’s pit of betrayal.

By Rabbi James Bennett, Congregation Shaare EmethPublished December 18, 2024

What we do and what we say matters; once we do or say something, there is often no turning back. One of life’s most important lessons is to think before we speak or act.  In reflecting on this week’s Torah portion, one cannot help but wonder how...

Election 2024: How should we respond?

Election 2024: How should we respond?

By Rabbi Ze’ev SmasonPublished November 22, 2024

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. ...

How do I get this pushy synagogue board member to leave me alone?

How do I get this pushy synagogue board member to leave me alone?

By Beth HarpazPublished November 10, 2024

A Bintel Brief, Yiddish for a bundle of letters, has been solving reader dilemmas since 1906. Send yours via email, social media or this form. Dear Bintel,  I am on my synagogue’s board. A man on the board makes me uncomfortable. His wife was...

What Christian nationalism could have in store for Jews

What Christian nationalism could have in store for Jews

Asaf Elia-Shalev, The Jewish Telegraphic AgencyPublished November 6, 2024

(JTA) — For an energetic group, increasing the influence of Christianity in American life and returning the country to what they see as its founding Christian ideals. Scholars say these Christian nationalists have claimed a prominent, mainstream...

Why I wrote a prayer to be said on the Shabbat before Election Day

Why I wrote a prayer to be said on the Shabbat before Election Day

David Zvi Kalman, JTAPublished October 31, 2024

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...

Pereles responds to letter

Pereles responds to letter

Published October 21, 2024

As a candidate for the Missouri State Senate, I am eager to respond to the comments made by those questioning my support for Israel. While State Senators don’t have much sway on our nation’s foreign policy, they do have an impact on reproductive...

Letter to the editor: Transparency in politics

Letter to the editor: Transparency in politics

Published October 15, 2024

Like you, I receive many calls from candidates on November’s ballot. As a resident of Missouri Senate District 15 (Chesterfield, Town and Country, Ballwin), I was particularly interested in Joe Pereles, who is running to represent me. His campaign materials...

Response to recent Rabbi Smason commentary

Published October 11, 2024

In a recent op-ed (Jewish Light, Sept. 25), Rabbi Ze’ev Smason correctly notes that younger American Jews are drifting from the support of Israel. There are many reasons. The first that comes to my mind is that fewer Americans believe in the foundation...

How art, music, and food are shrinking boundaries in St. Louis

How art, music, and food are shrinking boundaries in St. Louis

BY NANCY KRANZBERGPublished October 7, 2024

The past few cultural events that I have attended as well as the art, music and even food that I have enjoyed lately point out that the world is shrinking and coming together in mostly positive ways. Some terms often used to describe this phenomenon...

Focus on empty synagogues, not imagined antisemitic codes

Focus on empty synagogues, not imagined antisemitic codes

Published September 30, 2024

I simply could not believe the Light dedicated an entire article to the proposition that the sale of some pillows at the price of $14.88 is antisemitic coding. (“Mike Lindell says he did not intend Nazi symbolism by selling pillows for $14.88”,...

Protesters at the White House on Oct. 16, 2023, call for a cease-fire to the Israel-Hamas war.

Are young American Jews and Israel drifting apart?

By Rabbi Ze’ev SmasonPublished September 25, 2024

Marc Kornblatt prepared uneasily earlier this year for his daughter, Louisa, to arrive for 10 days with the family. Her homecomings once brought the comfort of movie nights and card games, but this year was different. Marc and his wife, Judith, had moved...

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