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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

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...

December 2021- the last family photo of the five members of the Arnold family

Amid unimaginable loss, a family’s legacy of kindness shines through

By Marsha SchumanPublished October 31, 2024

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...

Portrait of Rabbi Josef Davidson

Making sense of language in the story of the Tower of Babel

RABBI JOSEF DAVIDSONPublished October 30, 2024

Recently seen on Facebook: “Ese momento when publican un meme auf English, Deutsch und Espanol aber du are poliglota und expert in memes and du kannst camprender drei languages al miso Zeit.” The reader who is as enamored with languages...

Notes from a Jewish mother: You may be an alpha, dude, but you’re no sigma

Notes from a Jewish mother: You may be an alpha, dude, but you’re no sigma

BY AMY FENSTER BROWN, Special To The Jewish LightPublished October 29, 2024

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...

Would a real mensch wear a ‘mensch’ T-shirt?

Would a real mensch wear a ‘mensch’ T-shirt?

By Jodi Rudoren, The ForwardPublished October 28, 2024

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:...

Why the legacies of these trailblazing rabbis are tied to this week's Torah portion

Why the legacies of these trailblazing rabbis are tied to this week’s Torah portion

By Rabbi Rachel Bearman, Congregation Shaare EmethPublished October 24, 2024

Every year, as we study this week’s Torah portion, Bereshit, I find myself thinking of two remarkable rabbis.  The first rabbi I associate with Parashat Bereshit is Rabbi Sally J. Priesand. In 1972, Rabbi Priesand was ordained by the Hebrew Union...

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...

Discover the hidden wisdom of the harvest: A season of blessings and joy awaits!

Discover the hidden wisdom of the harvest: A season of blessings and joy awaits!

By Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh, Temple EmanuelPublished October 17, 2024

Autumn fills my soul with beauty. I take delight in the crisp air, and the artist’s array of beautiful leaves. The audible crunch of leaves under my boots is an old familiar sound. I welcome dusk at an earlier hour. The long evening stretches ahead...

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...

Why I used to dread Yom Kippur—and how it became my most meaningful day of the year

Why I used to dread Yom Kippur—and how it became my most meaningful day of the year

By Rabbi James M. Bennett, Congregation Shaare EmethPublished October 10, 2024

Growing up, I dreaded Yom Kippur. Not merely the frightening and guilt-evoking liturgy of sin and repentance, not only having to go 24 hours without food, but also for the mood and the obligations of this challenging day itself.  Our family spent...

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