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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: Dec. 1, 2021

Letters to the Editor: Dec. 1, 2021

Published December 13, 2021

Jewish students abroad facing antisemitic threats We want to alert the community to some very brave Austrian Jewish students facing menacing antisemitic threats. On the recent anniversary of Kristallnacht, a group of Viennese Jewish students plastered...

Why do Jews have such a love affair with the IDF?

Tabby Refael, JNSPublished December 12, 2021

(Jewish Journal via JNS) I was 16 when I first visited Israel with my mother. She spent most of the trip coming between me and aggressive young Israeli men who thought it was cute when I said, “Shalom, korim li Tabby” (“Hi, I’m Tabby”) with...

My Jewish ancestors owned slaves. That’s why I’m a rabbi for racial justice.

My Jewish ancestors owned slaves. That’s why I’m a rabbi for racial justice.

Rabbi Barry H. BlockPublished December 9, 2021

(JTA) — In “The Social Justice Torah Commentary,” Rabbi Brian Stoller describes a turtle-shaped dinner bell that his great-grandmother used to summon a Black butler to attend to her needs at the family’s Shabbat table. When I got to that line...

Larry David has never been more Jewish than in this season’s ‘Curb’

Larry David has never been more Jewish than in this season’s ‘Curb’

Published December 2, 2021

(JTA) — “Curb Your Enthusiasm” has always been a Jewy show, but this season it is downright Jewish. On the HBO sitcom, now in its 11th season, Larry David has never been shy about surfacing, and lampooning, Judaism and Jewishness. He has contemplated...

A new addiction hiding in your child’s hand

A new addiction hiding in your child’s hand

Debra KlevensPublished November 24, 2021

Houston, we have a problem. Have you seen your child’s grades slipping since returning to school? Have you checked your child’s weekly screen time? I believe there is a strong correlation. We now have a new addiction on our hands that no one...

This Hanukkah, let’s take a lesson from Thanksgiving

This Hanukkah, let’s take a lesson from Thanksgiving

Susan Kemppainen, Special to the Jewish LightPublished November 24, 2021

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah both arrive around the same time this year, and it has made me consider the difference between being grateful for what we have versus craving the things we want. After all, Thanksgiving is a holiday devoted to the concept of...

The Orthodox community rose up against accused abuser Chaim Walder. That needs to become the norm.

The Orthodox community rose up against accused abuser Chaim Walder. That needs to become the norm.

Published November 23, 2021

(JTA) — Allegations of child sexual abuse against Chaim Walder, the author of children’s books beloved in the haredi Orthodox market, and the uncharacteristically swift and harsh community response, have left many wondering if this case could...

How Thanksgiving helped Jews carve out a piece of the American story

How Thanksgiving helped Jews carve out a piece of the American story

Published November 22, 2021

(JTA) — Thanksgiving seems to have all the right ingredients for a holiday that most American Jews can embrace: It doesn’t fall on Shabbat, its roots and message are nonsectarian, and its only real ritual is a multi-course meal.  That’s why...

The five biggest problems facing the U.S. today

Marty RochesterPublished November 21, 2021

I recently was at dinner with a friend, and the conversation turned to politics. “Racism is the single biggest problem facing America today,” she said. I conceded that racism remains a problem but argued that it is hardly No. 1. What would you...

Letters to the Editor: Nov. 17, 2021

Letters to the Editor: Nov. 17, 2021

Published November 21, 2021

Documentary brings back memories  The documentary film review by Dan Buffa “ ‘Welcome to Kutsher’s: The Last Catskills Resort’ wistfully evokes famous upstate New York country club” (published on the Light’s website Oct. 30) struck a chord...

A rabbi helped me understand the stigma addiction carries. ‘Dopesick’ makes his lessons even more essential

A rabbi helped me understand the stigma addiction carries. ‘Dopesick’ makes his lessons even more essential

Nora Berman, The ForwardPublished November 18, 2021

“This story was originally published on November 18 by theForward. Sign up  here to get the latest stories from the Forward delivered to you each morning.” Waves of agony repeatedly knocked the breath out of me, as pressure built behind...

No, Gen. Flynn: America may be a nation of faith, but not just one

By Jonathan S. Tobin, JNSPublished November 18, 2021

(JNS) Ever since President Thomas Jefferson first coined the phrase in 1802, Americans have debated exactly how high the “wall of separation” should be between religion and state. The debate continues to this day. For example, the question of whether...

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