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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

Israel’s Nationality Law will humiliate the Jews of the Diaspora

Ariel PicardPublished July 18, 2018

JERUSALEM (JTA) — There are many problems with the Nationality Law nearing passage as the Knesset wraps up its summer session on Sunday, not the least of which is that there is no reason for it. No Israelis challenge the Jewishness of the state, thus...

Eric Mink is a freelance writer and editor and teaches film studies at Webster University.  He is a former columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Daily News in New York. Contact him at ericmink1@gmail.com. 

Call it what it is: Child abuse

By Eric MinkPublished July 12, 2018

I don’t know what Donald Trump’s campaign marketing slogan, Make America Great Again, means, if anything.But I am certain of one thing: There will be no greatness of any kind for a United States of America that uses child abuse as a tool of immigration...

Two Missouri rabbis were part of a delegation of rabbis, cantors and Jewish activists crossing the California border to visit Tijuana migrant centers. Among them were Rabbi Susan Talve, at right, who is senior rabbi at Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis and Rabbi Doug Alpert, senior rabbi at Congregation Kol Ami in Kansas City. 

Love the stranger: Stand up for immigrants

By Rabbi Susan Talve and Rabbi Doug AlpertPublished July 12, 2018

As rabbis in our respective Missouri cities we see our shared struggles against injustice as central to both living out our Jewish values, and being exemplars of those values for our congregants and Jewish communities.  Amongst those Jewish values we...

Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin of Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation in Northfield, Ill., was installed recently as president of the Rabbinical Assembly. 

Conservative movement is closing its gender gap, but there is still work to be done

By Debra Newman Kamin and Alisa Pomerantz-Boro, JTAPublished July 12, 2018

As the Jewish world this year marks Israel’s 70th anniversary, we recall that two years before Israel’s independence, a momentous change came in the Conservative movement: Its then new prayer book, known as the Silverman siddur, no longer contained...

Letters to the editor: July 11, 2018

Published July 12, 2018

Film about Holocaust survivor inspires hope “Big Sonia” is remarkable, inspiring and a great opportunity to bring about change in our community.  We have a unique opportunity to experience the power of optimism and determination and be inspired...

Conservative movement is closing its gender gap, but there is still work to be done

Debra Newman Kamin and Alisa Pomerantz-BoroPublished July 6, 2018

(JTA) — As the Jewish world this year marks Israel’s 70th anniversary, we recall that two years before Israel’s independence, a momentous change came in the Conservative movement: Its then new prayer book, known as the Silverman siddur, no longer...

Liel Asulin works for CAMERA on Campus. His commentary was distributed by JNS. 

An open letter to participants who left their Birthright trip

By Liel AsulinPublished July 5, 2018

I’m conflicted. On the one hand, I am hesitant to engage with you because a response would give your rhetoric a degree of legitimacy. On the other hand, your rhetoric is so presumptive and your intentions for participating on this trip are so disingenuous...

Andrew Silow-Carroll is editor in chief of JTA, a syndicated news service for Jewish media. 

Is term ‘non-Jew’ an insult?

By Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTAPublished July 5, 2018

NEW YORK — A few months ago I wrote a humor piece titled “Don’t eat off the seder plate, and other tips for non-Jews attending their first seder.” It drew a miffed response from a rabbi friend who often works with interfaith families and suggested...

Letters to the editor: July 4, 2018

Published July 5, 2018

Response to Rochester column on liberalismMartin Rochester’s June 20 column “Here’s why liberalism is not my cup of latte” is one of his many commentaries attacking liberalism. He gives passing criticism of Trump and conservatism before getting...

Predicting new Supreme Court justice’s rulings is uncertain art

BY ROBERT A. COHNPublished July 5, 2018

The resignation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy effective July 31 has set off a firestorm of speculation, rejoicing and hand-wringing among the senators who will have to confirm his successor.Republicans and other conservatives are popping...

Undermining the First Amendment

JEWISH LIGHT EDITORIALPublished July 5, 2018

Decades after it validated the shameful internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the U.S. Supreme Court has finally overturned its ruling in the case of Korematsu v. United States.Sadly, though, that welcome move comes in the context of its...

Henry Cadbury suggested that Jews were “only increasing the severity” of Hitler’s policies in 1934. (Charles Dunst/JTA illustration)

In 1934, an American professor urged that Jews be civil — to the Nazis

Angus JohnstonPublished July 2, 2018

(JTA) — At the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in June 1934, the assembled religious leaders were confronted with questions that especially resonate for Americans in the Trump era: How should we approach those who oppose...

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