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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

I know the obstacles faced by people with disabilities. That is why I am lobbying for change.

I know the obstacles faced by people with disabilities. That is why I am lobbying for change.

Published February 21, 2022

(JTA) — I’ve always believed in living life to the fullest. When you grow up with a disability, you are faced with a choice of whether or not to let it define you as a person. People often find it easy to say no to someone with a disability,...

Israel’s never-ending, and very human, ‘Who Is a Jew?’ saga

Israel’s never-ending, and very human, ‘Who Is a Jew?’ saga

Published February 20, 2022

(JTA) — Jared Armstong has an emotional story to tell, and he told it an oped I edited last week for our opinion section. Armstrong made headlines recently when the Israeli government refused his application for citizenship. Armstrong, a recent...

Like ‘Unorthodox’ and ‘Shtisel’? ‘Shababnikim’ offers a fresh, funny new view into Orthodox life.

Like ‘Unorthodox’ and ‘Shtisel’? ‘Shababnikim’ offers a fresh, funny new view into Orthodox life.

Published February 18, 2022

(JTA) — Having obsessively watched every episode of “Srugim,” a “Friends”-like series about Modern Orthodox singles in Jerusalem; “Shtisel,” about a perpetually lovelorn haredi man and his family; and “Mekimi,” which focuses on a secular...

Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City, Mo.

The good, the bad and the ‘most egregious’ of Missouri’s legislative session

AMY HAMMERMAN and HILLARY HINZPublished February 18, 2022

The 2022 Missouri Legislative session kicked off Jan. 5th and the National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis has already been a consistent presence in the capitol advocating on behalf of our priority issues. Although we anticipate several difficult fights...

black silhouettes of three groups of different teen people standing and talking to each other

Think going ham on teenspeak makes me tucked? Bet!

AMY FENSTER BROWNPublished February 18, 2022

Just days ago, my older kid turned 16. Sixteen! That means in addition to driving us crazy, he’s driving himself and his little brother all over town. Said little brother will be 15 pretty soon.  These two above-average mensches are full of thoughts...

Ryia Ross-Peterson. Photo: Chris Ryan

Myth of ‘white Christian superiority’ is the issue, not Whoopi Goldberg

RYIA ROSS-PETERSONPublished February 17, 2022

Whoopi Goldberg, a prominent Black actress, comedian and talk show personality, recently made some inaccurate comments about Jews and the Holocaust on “The View,” which she co-hosts. After some Jewish leaders, including the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt...

Jewish day school leader: We read banned books here

Jewish day school leader: We read banned books here

CHERYL MAAYANPublished February 17, 2022

The skills we teach at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School are many, but I’d be hard pressed to think any is more important than reading. Besides the obvious role of literacy in creating opportunities in life, literacy builds knowledge, perspective,...

St. Louis Friends of Israel denounces Amnesty report 

St. Louis Friends of Israel denounces Amnesty report 

GALIT LEV-HARIR and TRACI GOLDSTEINPublished February 16, 2022

On Feb. 1, Amnesty International issued a report on Israel that labels Israel as an “apartheid” state. Use of the emotionally charged term “apartheid” is intended to stigmatize Israel, isolate it in the community of nations and, ultimately, delegitimize...

I’m a queer Mizrahi Jew who left the NY Orthodox world. This ‘bubby’ took me in.

I’m a queer Mizrahi Jew who left the NY Orthodox world. This ‘bubby’ took me in.

Published February 16, 2022

This article first appeared on Alma. In Orthodox Judaism, a child’s Hebrew name is given within the first week. The rules for our lives are predetermined, assigned based on our gender at birth. Since I was born, I knew inside that I was created differently...

Israel thinks I only want to make aliyah so I can play basketball. But I just want to come home.

Israel thinks I only want to make aliyah so I can play basketball. But I just want to come home.

Published February 15, 2022

(JTA) — Eight days after I was born, I had a brit. I was a Jew, and that’s what Jews do. Well, many do it anyway; Jews who are not observant may not, but that wasn’t my family. We kept Shabbat. We had the best meals and wine during Passover....

Freshman Sarrah Wilkes, sophomore Rebekah Sheff, and freshman Sydney Kolker enjoy Cafe Chabad on Wednesday night.

College life: Allowing your child to soar

DEBRA KLEVENSPublished February 10, 2022

It was 2 a.m. in March of 2020, and my daughter and I watched the COVID news while scrolling through Hillel’s College Guide to find schools with a Jewish population. One by one, we went through the list to find a school with a Jewish population....

Rabbi Shmuel Miller is Head of School at Epstein Hebrew Academy.

Working through challenges nourishes our lives—and our children’s

RABBI SHMUEL MILLERPublished February 9, 2022
Epstein Hebrew Academy Head of School Rabbi Shmuel Miller offers 'nuggets of wisdom that may help fuel your child and the child within you'
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