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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: July 13, 2022 edition

Letters to the editor: July 13, 2022 edition

Published July 20, 2022

Reader’s response to Rochester column I strongly disagree with the recent commentary by Professor Marty Rochester on Ukraine (“Some predictions about a post-Ukraine War world,” June 22). His commentary advocates a Neville Chamberlin approach to...

An image released by NASA on July 12, 2022, shows the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region in the Carina Nebula, captured in infrared light by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. (NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI/Handout via Xinhua)

The James Webb Telescope looks at the universe through the eyes of God

BENJAMIN RESNICKPublished July 18, 2022

(JTA) – Back in December, human beings, a weird variety of uniquely frail, lithe and hairless monkeys, launched into space a new, $10 billion dollar telescope, 21 feet in diameter and, like many great temples, covered with golden mirrors. The James Webb...

How I learned to stop kvetching and love the Yiddish revival

Published July 17, 2022

AMHERST, Massachusetts (JTA) — Josh Dolgin, the Canadian rapper and klezmer musician who performs as Socalled, was nearing the end of a raucous, crowd-pleasing set last Sunday when he paused to introduce a Yiddish song about a frog, “Di Frosh.” “It’s...

As U. City cemetery ages, it needs our help to honor our ancestors

As U. City cemetery ages, it needs our help to honor our ancestors

BY FAITH SCHWARTZ COMENSKYPublished July 14, 2022

I’ve been going to Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City visiting the graves of my family’s ancestors for decades. Sadly, in more recent times, my husband and I visit the graves of some of our immediate family as well. I’ve always been...

Shaming women who have abortions is not a Jewish ethic

Published July 11, 2022

(JTA) — I have long been a keeper of women’s stories, many of which relate to fertility and reproductive choices, experiences generally shrouded in secrecy. While I am honored to be trusted with these personal accounts, I look forward to, and am...

How the Lanner case still haunts American Jewry

Published July 10, 2022

(JTA) — It’s been over 20 years since my predecessor as editor of the New York Jewish Week, Gary Rosenblatt, first exposed the predations of Rabbi Baruch Lanner. His powerful investigation led Lanner’s bosses at the Orthodox Union to issue a report...

D'var Torah: Quietly cultivate ‘earth-wisdom’ to help heal the world

D’var Torah: Quietly cultivate ‘earth-wisdom’ to help heal the world

RABBI JANINE SCHLOSSPublished July 7, 2022

I grew up mostly in California, and people often presume that I must have spent my whole life out communing with nature. In truth, I was never a big hiker, and I absolutely hated camping and boating. As an adult, I still hate camping, but I have...

"From wife to widow," the conversation no one wants to have, but should

“From wife to widow,” the conversation no one wants to have, but should

By Emilie Schaffer, CFP®, CRPC®, Buckingham Wealth AdvisorPublished July 5, 2022

Let’s say you are 36 years old and feel like you have everything you want. You graduated from college with a nursing degree and enjoyed the uncomplicated life of a single woman in her twenties. You saw the world and utilized your skills at the Red...

Why an Orthodox Jewish organization welcomed the end of Roe v. Wade

Why an Orthodox Jewish organization welcomed the end of Roe v. Wade

Published July 5, 2022

(JTA) — Agudath Israel of America, the national Orthodox Jewish organization for which I work, welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Predictably, we were immediately cast into an “enemy” or “ally” box, depending on who...

A writer faces his demons — and history’s — on a guided tour of Holocaust sites

Published July 3, 2022

(JTA) — “This isn’t hell,” Jerry Stahl writes. “This is the Museum of Hell.” “This” is Auschwitz, and Stahl’s epiphany comes about halfway through his new book “Nein, Nein, Nein!” (Akashic Books), his nonfiction account of a two-week...

Judaism is clear about abortion

Judaism is clear about abortion

Dianna Fine and Wendy Flusser , Co-Chairs | 73 Forward - NCJW’s Campaign for Abortion Access   NCJWSTL Published July 1, 2022

Judaism is clear about abortion. Our tradition not only permits but requires it in circumstances where the pregnant person’s life is in danger. It is one of many reasons why Jews overwhelmingly support abortion by 83% in all or most cases. Judaism...

Cantor-Rabbi Ronald D. Eichaker serves United Hebrew Congregation and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the weekly d’var Torah for the Light.

D’var Torah: ‘Diseased words’ and the power to misshape the world

Cantor-Rabbi Ronald D. EichakerPublished June 30, 2022

Overheard at a store checkout line: “Ya know, I can predict the score of the next Cardinals game before the first pitch.” “You can make a ton of money betting on games. What’s the score?” “Zero to zero.” Let’s...

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