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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

Sports

Abby Meyers was selected in the first round of the 2023 WNBA Draft. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)

Jewish basketball star Abby Meyers selected in 1st round of WNBA draft

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished April 11, 2023

(JTA) — Abby Meyers, a Maccabiah Games gold medalist and former University of Maryland basketball star, was selected 11th overall by the Dallas Wings in the first round of the WNBA Draft on Monday night. Meyers, who was involved with Jewish life...

Photo Courtesy of ESPN.

ESPN looks at tension between Jewish Day school athletics and religious observance

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 10, 2023

The motto of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Boys Cross Country team (JDS) in Rockville, Maryland is “Nothing great comes easy," and that motto speaks volumes. You see the students at JDS are practicing Jews who must observe the Sabbath from...

Ron Blomberg was Major League Baseball's first-ever designated hitter. (Louis Requena/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The real story behind the “Designated Hebrew” Ron Blomberg

By Frederic J. Frommer, The ForwardPublished March 29, 2023

A half-century ago, a young Jewish player on the New York Yankees made history for not doing something on the baseball diamond. After taking an at-bat in the top of the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Ron Blomberg stayed on the...

From left to right: Rowdy Tellez, Alex Bregman, Harrison Bader, Max Fried, Joc Pederson, Garrett Stubbs. (Getty Images; design by Mollie Suss)

All the Jewish MLB players to watch in 2023

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished March 28, 2023

(JTA) — The 2023 MLB season is almost upon us, and it has the potential to be a historic year for Jews in professional baseball. Last year, 17 Jewish players appeared in a game — a likely record. This season, the number could be even higher. The...

Avi Miller, right, ran Israel Baseball's Twitter account during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. (Left: Screenshot from Twitter, Right: Courtesy)

Israel struck out at the World Baseball Classic, but the team’s Twitter account was a hit

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished March 24, 2023

(JTA) — Many fans were despairing as Team Israel trailed Puerto Rico 6-0 in the World Baseball Classic last week, but the team’s Twitter account had a different message. “We will never give up,” the account tweeted. “After all, Moses was...

Ryan Lavarnway played for Team Israel at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Ryan Lavarnway, a Team Israel veteran and World Series champ, retires from MLB

JACOB GURVIS, JTAPublished March 24, 2023

(JTA) — Veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway announced his retirement from baseball Wednesday, ending a journeyman career that featured 10 seasons in the MLB and multiple appearances with Team Israel. “I have played on eight big league teams and worn...

5 questions with St. Louis Sports Commission's Marc Schreiber

5 questions with St. Louis Sports Commission’s Marc Schreiber

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished March 19, 2023

Marc Schreiber, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, has been busy planning upcoming events, including the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s April 8 match with the Republic of Ireland at CITYPARK. The commission helps attract major sporting...

Stu Moss, left, and David Bogatz at Team Israel's game against Puerto Rico, Monday, March 13, 2022, in Miami. (Jacob Gurvis)

‘It’s my heritage’: American Jews — and allies — turn out to support Team Israel at the WBC

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished March 15, 2023

MIAMI (JTA) — When Michael Ignagni found out that Team Israel would be competing in the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifier, he immediately thought of how Western pop culture undermined communism. “The first thing I thought of was the impact...

Mar 12, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Israel shortstop Michael Wielansky (38) throws to first base to take out Nicaragua third baseman Benjamin Alegria (not pictured) during the ninth inning at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Jewish St. Louisan Michael Wielansky gets into game as Team Israel beats Nicaragua 3-1

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished March 12, 2023

MIAMI (JTA) — It was a familiar narrative: Team Israel, ever the underdog, was down and running out of time. Then, just when it seemed hopeless, they pulled off a thrilling comeback. It wasn’t Purim, or Passover, or even Hanukkah. It was Team Israel’s...

Darryl Strawberry visited Israel for the first time in 2018. (Courtesy of Strawberry)

St. Louisan Darryl Strawberry is now an evangelical preacher focused on promoting Israel

Gabe Friedman, JTAPublished March 8, 2023

(JTA) — As part of his journey after a tumultuous decade and a half in the spotlight, former New York Mets star Darryl Strawberry is speaking at a pro-Israel event in his second career as an evangelical minister. Strawberry, an eight-time MLB All-Star-turned-traveling-preacher,...

Courtesy of Ben Hochman

Ben Hochman wins Top 10 award from AP for best sports columnist

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 6, 2023

When it comes to the world of professional sports journalism it really is the honor of being "nominated" that is celebrated. Recently, the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) announced which sportswriters, photographers and editors made their "Top-10"...

Jeff Passan on the set of "Baseball Tonight" during the 2021 AL Wild Card game at Fenway Park. (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Jeff Passan opens up on his Hebrew school upbringing, interviewing Sandy Koufax and Jewish baseball history

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished February 24, 2023

(JTA) — For tuned-in baseball fans, Jeff Passan is everywhere. As ESPN’s senior MLB insider, he frequently breaks some of the sport’s biggest news and appears on several of the global sports network’s television, radio and podcast programs. After...

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