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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

Pickleball has exploded in popularity at Jewish summer camps. (Courtesy of Camp Avoda; design by Mollie Suss)

Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, hits Jewish camps

Published July 28, 2023

(JTA) — As head of programming for Maccabi USA, Shane Carr is used to having people ask him to add sports to the organization’s many Jewish sports tournaments around the world. But since 2019, one sport has been suggested above all others: pickleball. Widely...

Thomas Poretsky shown in front of his Bandolero car. (Lonny Goldsmith/TC Jewfolk)

Meet Thomas Poretsky, 10-year-old Native American-Jewish racer

Lonny Goldsmith and Jacob GurvisPublished July 21, 2023

ELKO NEW MARKET, Minn. (JTA via TC Jewfolk) — Thomas Poretsky is six years away from being behind the wheel of a street-legal car and is too young to drive bumper cars at the State Fair. This is ironic as he stands in the shadow of Elko Speedway in...

Zack Gelof bats during a World Baseball Classic game between Team Venezuela and Team Israel, March 15, 2023, in Miami. Photo: Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Zack Gelof becomes the 18th Jewish MLB player this year — a likely record

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished July 14, 2023

(JTA) — When Zack Gelof makes his MLB debut for the Oakland Athletics, which could happen as soon as Friday night, he will become the 18th Jewish player to appear in the big leagues this season. That is likely an all-time record, topping last season’s...

Zach Levenson singles to left field as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Penn State Nittany Lions, Feb. 19, 2023, in Coral Gables, Florida. (Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cardinals draft Zach Levenson, one of six Jewish baseball players selected into the MLB

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished July 12, 2023

(JTA) — Though there were no Jewish players at this week’s MLB All-Star Game, the future is bright. The best bellwether of what’s to come is the MLB Draft, which included 20 rounds split between the past three nights. A total of 614 players were...

From Left: Annabel Brockman, Dylan Johns, Morgan Cohen, Emilie Brockman, Nathan Arst, Grant Rauner, Noah Kravetz, Alyssa Weisenberg.

Seven St. Louis athletes competing in Maccabi Games in Israel this week

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 6, 2023

Seven St. Louis Jewish teen athletes are in Israel this week, preparing for the weeklong JCC Maccabi Games. This is the first time since 2011 that the games will take place in Israel. The athletes, Nathan Arst (baseball), Annabel Brockman (tennis),...

David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami CF, watches his team warm up ahead of a game. (Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

David Beckham says he’s proud to be ‘part of the Jewish community’

Published July 5, 2023

(JTA) — British soccer icon David Beckham is known globally for his bevy of championships as well as the “bend” he could put on the ball during 20 seasons of play. But on Sunday, approximately 600 people in a London synagogue saw him exhibit...

Israeli players celebrating their advancement to the semifinals at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Photo courtesy of UEFA

Israel qualifies for Olympic soccer, first time in 48 years

By Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel 21cPublished July 3, 2023

Israel has qualified for the men’s football (soccer) competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by advancing to the semifinals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. According to the qualification criteria, the top three ranked teams...

Members of the Jewish Inspiration Foundation on the set of "American Ninja Warrior." From left to right: Chaya Ruth Weberman, Eli Casper, Ari Cohen, Esther Schwab and Aydra Jones. (Courtesy of Leah Cohen)

Why no one will see this inspiring Jewish story on NBC’s ‘American Ninja Warrior’

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished June 30, 2023

(JTA) — On March 23, Michael Neuman was in the middle of an obstacle course for NBC’s sports reality competition show “American Ninja Warrior.” The show features grueling challenges such as rope swings, pole vaults and climbing walls, all with...

Tomas Rincon wears jersey No. 88 for Torino FC

Italy to bar soccer players from wearing No. 88, which has coded meaning for neo-Nazis

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished June 29, 2023

(JTA) — Soccer players in Italy will no longer be permitted to wear the number 88, which has a secret antisemitic meaning among neo-Nazis, thanks to a joint initiative announced Tuesday between Italy’s government and the Italian soccer federation. The...

Amari Bailey

Jewish player Amari Bailey drafted 41st overall by the Charlotte Hornets

Published June 23, 2023

(JTA) — The NBA’s Jewish roster added a new star on Thursday night, as Amari Bailey, a guard from the University of California Los Angeles, was drafted 41st overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Bailey, 19, a former five-star recruit who played at...

Eliza Kanner is entering her third season as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots. (Courtesy of the New England Patriots/Dwight Darian)

Meet the NFL cheerleader who works at a Jewish federation

Published June 22, 2023

(JTA) — If Eliza Kanner had only one job, late June would be busy enough. Entering her third season as a New England Patriots cheerleader, Kanner and her team are in the Dominican Republic this week for their annual calendar shoot. The NFL preseason...

Amari Bailey

NBA likely to get new Jewish player today in 2nd round of NBA draft

By Louis Keene, The ForwardPublished June 22, 2023

By the end of Thursday night’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn, the league will likely have a new Jewish player: Amari Bailey, a former five-star recruit who declared for the draft after his freshman year at UCLA. Bailey’s Jewish background...

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