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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

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Russell Brand leaving court on May 2, 2025 in London, England. (Neil Mockford/Getty Images)

Russell Brand defends Ye’s ‘Heil Hitler’ music video: ‘the hook is catchy’

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished May 13, 2025

(JTA) — Russell Brand, the actor and iconoclastic activist, defended Kanye West’s latest song, titled “Heil Hitler,” saying that the artist now known as Ye is “uncancellable.” “‘Heil Hitler’ @kanyewest is uncancellable because he...

Susan Florek, Roy Kramer, Lisa Kramer and Scott Berzon.

Pinball Wizard: Meet the Jewish pinball champs of St. Louis

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished May 13, 2025

At age 7, Scott Berzon could often be found in the basement of his home playing pinball. That long-dormant experience kicked into high gear on Mon., May 12 when he won the gold medal in the 2025 St. Louis Senior Olympics pinball competition. “The...

Glenridge Elementary School.

Two arrested after antisemitic graffiti found at Clayton elementary school

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 12, 2025

Two juveniles have been taken into custody in connection with a vandalism incident at Glenridge Elementary School, located at 7447 Wellington Way in Clayton where antisemitic and racist graffiti was discovered early Monday morning, according to the Clayton...

Pope Leo XIV addresses the world following his election. (Getty Images)

Is Pope Leo Jewish? Ask his distant cousins

By Robin Washington, The ForwardPublished May 12, 2025

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. The next time someone asks sarcastically if the pope is Catholic, tell them not so fast. He apparently has Jewish cousins....

Denise Lieberman

St. Louis voting rights advocate honored with WashU’s ‘Ethic of Service Award’

Published May 12, 2025

Denise Lieberman was one of eight honorees to receive the Gerry & Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award from the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. The annual award recognizes a select group of Washington University community members...

11,237 calls, 1,300 births. Ambulance honoring U-City couple hits major milestone in Israel

11,237 calls, 1,300 births. Ambulance honoring U-City couple hits major milestone in Israel

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 12, 2025

In a testament to the life-saving impact of a single act of generosity, the Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulance donated by former St. Louisan Dr. Irvin Pretsky continues to make a profound difference in Israel. We first told you about the MICU...

The first image released from Gaza of Edan Alexander, who was released from Hamas captivity on May 12, 2025. (Screenshot)

Hamas releases Edan Alexander, last living American hostage, to Israel

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, back to Israel under a deal reached with the United States. The release, conducted Monday evening in Gaza, may inaugurate a new phase in the hostage crisis that has consumed...

A crowd stands vigil awaiting the release of Edan Alexander, a local son and Hamas captive, in Tenafly, New Jersey, May 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Elkins)

In Tenafly, NJ, a crowd awaits the release of local son Edan Alexander from Hamas captivity

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — The call went out over email, text and WhatsApp on Sunday night: Come to Huyler Park in downtown Tenafly at 5 a.m. to celebrate — Edan Alexander was coming home. Born and raised by Israeli parents in Tenafly, Alexander, 21, joined the Israel...

Dr. Kurt H. Debus

Why did it take NASA so long to stop honoring a Nazi scientist?

Lev Golinkin, The ForwardPublished May 11, 2025

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. For years, NASA pumped out materials celebrating Kurt H. Debus, the Kennedy Space Center’s first director. Only one...

:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informs the Feldman family in Tel Aviv of the return of Sgt. First Class Tzvika Feldman’s remains, 43 years after he went missing in the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. Photo by Kobi Gideon/GPO.

Body of soldier missing since 1982, recovered

JNS StaffPublished May 11, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday morning that the remains of Staff Sgt. Tzvi Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub during the First Lebanon War, have been returned to Israel in a joint operation conducted by...

Joel Goldberg and Barbi Lander Sapot

Meet the Jewish mixed doubles team that just served up gold

Photos and story by Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished May 11, 2025

A Jewish mixed doubles team took the gold medal in pickleball during the 2025 St. Louis Senior Olympics. Joel Goldberg and his sister-in-law Barbi Lander Sapot won the round-robin tournament at Padel+Pickel in Olivette on Sat., May 10. The duo, who are...

A Voice Returns Home: Wally Rosen’s WWII record reunited with family after 82 years

A Voice Returns Home: Wally Rosen’s WWII record reunited with family after 82 years

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 11, 2025

When Meredith Chancellor first heard her father’s voice crackle through a forgotten World War II phonograph recording, she felt the full weight of a connection she never knew was lost. It was a voice she knew well – the same comforting voice that...

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