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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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Marcene Tockman and Vicki Fenster.

The ‘Age of Elegance’ lives on as Ms. Missouri Senior America Pageant seeks new contestants

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 10, 2024

For decades, women in St. Louis ages 60 and above have celebrated the joy of competing in the Ms. Missouri Senior America Pageant, a showcase of talent, grace and life’s rich experiences. The pageant, now seeking contestants for its 2025 edition...

Polish and German police officers inspect the papers of a Jewish pedestrian, Warsaw, 1941.

Polish police murdered Jews during the Holocaust with gusto and even without Nazi orders, new book claims

Zev Stub, JTAPublished December 10, 2024

Writing a comprehensive history of Polish citizens during the Holocaust is challenging, especially under Poland’s controversial 2018 law criminalizing references to Polish complicity in Nazi crimes. Despite this, acclaimed Holocaust historian Jan Grabowski...

Rosalie Stein

Rosalie Stein steps in as interim leader for Jewish Community Relations Council

Published December 10, 2024

Rosalie Stein, a longtime leader in the St. Louis Jewish community, will serve as interim executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis. Stein, who previously spent 13 years as executive director of Congregation Shaare...

Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin in ‘A Real Pain.’  Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Is the real problem with ‘A Real Pain’ that it isn’t Jewish enough?

By Jenny Singer, The ForwardPublished December 9, 2024

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. In college, I participated in an unforgettably tedious Birthright Israel trip. The students on my trip were bored by history,...

Dr. Fran Levine brings women’s forgotten stories on the Santa Fe Trail come to life

Dr. Fran Levine brings women’s forgotten stories on the Santa Fe Trail come to life

Jordan Palmer, Special To The Jewish LightPublished December 9, 2024

Dr. Fran Levine is someone who knows a thing or two about history. As the former president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society and Missouri History Museum, and the interim executive director of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum in 2022,...

University City says goodbye to a legend: But, Frank & Helen’s story lives on in new podcast

University City says goodbye to a legend: But, Frank & Helen’s story lives on in new podcast

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 9, 2024

The last pizza has been baked. The last broasted chicken has been served, and now the iconic Frank & Helen’s restaurant in University City is officially a "lost table." A "lost table" is what Dr. Harley Hammerman calls those St. Louis restaurants...

What is a donor advised fund? The financial tool that changes everything

What is a donor advised fund? The financial tool that changes everything

JCFPublished December 9, 2024

In a year filled with challenges, charitable giving has been a source of unity and resilience, particularly for the Jewish community expressing support and solidarity in response to the October 7th attack. Israel-related causes saw a surge in donations,...

Rising Star: Parkway Central senior honored for exceptional leadership!

Rising Star: Parkway Central senior honored for exceptional leadership!

Published December 9, 2024

Leo Brown was named to the St. Louis County Outstanding Leader Program. This award annually recognizes one senior student from each St. Louis County high school who performs vital services to their school and community, such as volunteering, fundraising,...

Noa Tishby and Emmanuel Acho

What to know before signing up for the ‘Uncomfortable Conversations’ series

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 9, 2024

What happens when two friends—one Jewish, one not—break out of their comfort zones and tackle the questions most people are too afraid to ask? That’s the premise of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew,” a collaboration...

Israeli troops cross into Syrian side of border buffer zone after Bashar Assad’s ouster

Israeli troops cross into Syrian side of border buffer zone after Bashar Assad’s ouster

Ron Kampeas, JTAPublished December 9, 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli troops to occupy the Syrian side of a buffer zone on the Golan Heights for the first time in half a century. The Israeli prime minister said that the 50-year old agreement that kept the peace on the mountainous border...

Bob Newmark, Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and Michael Staenberg.

Michael Staenberg challenges St. Louis Jewish community to amplify giving

,Published December 8, 2024

As the Jewish Federation of St. Louis races to meet its $9.3 million annual campaign goal, a new challenge has emerged to inspire the community: philanthropist Michael Staenberg has pledged a matching gift of up to $180,000 for all new or increased contributions...

Photos: Brothers Lazaroff rock out at Hanukkah Hullabaloo 14

Photos: Brothers Lazaroff rock out at Hanukkah Hullabaloo 14

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished December 8, 2024

The 14th annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo drew a full house at The Grandel Theatre on Dec. 7. The Brothers Lazaroff hosted the concert and celebration of the Festival of Lights. They were accompanied by the regular members of the Eight Nights Orchestra,...

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